PROMOTING INDUSTRIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1919, Page 3

PROMOTING INDUSTRIES.

REPORT TO PARLIAMENT, V ■SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH.

Wellington, August 29.

The Industries Committee reported as follow to Parliament this evening:— New Zealand appears to be the only. British Dominion that has not organised for research work since the commencement of the war. The university colleges, which might have been expected to lead the way as centres of research for the benefit of (lie people and their, industries, have been bo starved from lack of funds that they have hardly been able to rise above the drudgery of teachi ing. Brilliant students have either had - to abandon research work or make some I other country the field of their investigations, and'university professors, who were eager to undertake various investigations, stated that unless they were provided with qualified assistants the demands made upon them as teachers rendered the prosecution of such investigations well night impossible. As an illustration: It will not be denied that any investigation which resuited in the production of industrial alcohol, at a price which would enable it to be used as a cheap motor spirit, would be of enormous economic value to the industrial life of the community, and might in a comparatively short time save to "the people of this country more than the-whole sum which it is reeemmended should be expended under this head. The committee are impressed with the fact that there are many pressing scientific problems awaiting solution in this country. These problems concern nearly every large industry, it may be even vitally, as, for example, in the case of the disease threatening the flax industry, while untold wealth awaits the result of scientific investigation into our coals, peats, oils, clays, timbers, and other natural resources; and in even greater degree the intensive application of science to the problems of agriculture. The committee, therefore, recommend: (1) That a Board of Science and Industry be established for the development of national resources. (2) That the Board be given an assured finance for five years. It is recommended that it should receive not less than £5,000 for the first year and £20,000 for each of the four following years. (3) That the Board Bhall bo representative of the various sections of Science and Industry. (4) That the Board shall, as one of its chief functions, consider all proposals for specific scientific researches, and shall allot to the proper person or persons the duty of conducting such specific: researches as it may approve. , (5) That in order to avoid centralisation, and in the interest of economy, the Board, in the carrying out of investigations, shall wherever possible cooperate with the university college authorities in the various centres with a view to making the fullest possible use of their staffs and laboratories. There shall also be sfti, up local advisory boards to inquire into, advise, and report upon local problems, (6) That one of the duties of the Board shall be to advise primary producers and those engaged in industrial pursuits as to the results or scientific investigations affecting or calculated to benefit their industries, including processes for the utilisation of waste products.

(7) That tlie Board Rliall have power to establish scholarships and also to award bonuses and prizes with the object of encouraging scientific and industrial research-

I (8) That the Board shall keep.in touch I with Government Departments and also 'with scientific and .educational institutions with a view 1| co-operation in scientific education and of everything which will tend to foster a greater appreciation of the advantages of science, not only by producers but by the people at large. The committee further recommend that there shall be established a central reference library under the control of the Board, containing the most important works relating to trade, commerce, science, and industry, and containing also the trading and manufacturing journals. It would appear that there is some necessity f«r the existence of a body to whom might be submitted the work of imentirs who, through lack of means or opportunity, are unable to have their inventions tested or brought under public notice. It is therefore recommended that in addition to its other duties, the Board of Science and Industry shall obtain reports from experts regarding any new inventions respecting which its advice may be sought. The Board should also serve the purpose of a bureau of information to which any investigator may apply for advice and direction in his work.

The committee have been informed that the trustees of the Cawthron Institute, at Nelson, which,is largely endowed for the carrying on of similar work to that which will come under the control of the proposed Board, have applied to the Government for nn annual subsidy ef £2M», being a sum equal to 5 per cent on the amount of death duties naid by the trustees. The committee recommend that-any amount granted be subject to the enactment of legislation which will ensure that the institute shall co-operate to the fullest extent, with the Board in the carrying out of researches affecting any portion of the Dominion. Finally, the committee recommend that the Government should grant to each of the university colleges sums of money specially ear-marked to provide fully qualified assistants to the professors of scientific subjects, including the subjects of engineering, mining, and medicine. The professors are experts, and they are at the present moment, as far as their professorial duties will permit, engaged in specific scientific investigations. To 'provide the professors with assistants, salaries of £SOO per annum would lie required Direct grants from the Government for this purpose are urged, because it is eminently desirable that provision of this sort should be of a permanent character.