The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1919. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1919. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

In drawing attent ion to the absence of any organised system of scientific research in the Dominion, the Parliamentary Industries Committee has indicated the necessity for this work in relation to the development of our resources, the furtherance of our industries and the promotion of much needed economies that will enable New Zealand to compete on more equal terms with other countries in the markets of the world. Why should the Dominion lag behind in this respect when the other parts of the Empire, especially the Motherland, are making great, strides? The only excuse that can be put forward is that scientific, research has been hitherto unvalued here, but that implies neglect on the part of the authorities which should come to an end. A country that can produce such a worldfamed scientist as Sir Ernest Rutherford should be stimulated to produce other scientists who would devote their gifts to an elucidation of its many material needs, and if the right men are not available, lliey should bo induced to come to the Dominion where there is ample scope for their talent. The fact is that in the past there has been no pressing need for scientific research as a lever to prosperity, but we have entered upon a period wherein the old scratching of the surface will no longer suffice, unless Ave arc to become a back number in the fight for the world's trade. Not only .' is greater production needed, but.; the most essential principles of economy are required in the process of production so as to utilise all by-products and eliminate all waste. It is New Zealand's duty to work out her own problems, and this can only be carried out by systematic organisation. Our schools and universities should take their part, in the work of reconstruction. The c-;imtrv is richly blessed in its varied resources—its minerals, peats, oils, clay, timbers, flax, by-products of primary industries and other factors that will add to its prosperity, and the time has arrived to utilise these riches. All that is needed for success in this work is trained brain power—systematised knowledge that, searches the unknown j by-laws that are exact and evolves solutions of problems that j mean crogreas and prosperity. The i

process is arduous and at times ex- ] tremely slow, but the true scientist tires not whether he fails or succeeds. Meanwhile lie must live; therefore the State, whose work he is doing, should be liberal in its remuneration, and in the end it will receive good value. Early in the war active steps were taken in Britain to encourage the organisation and development of scientific and industrial research, and good work has been done in many branches of research work, Parliament and the learned societies cooperating in a vigorous and successful effort. There are doubtless some members of the Dominion's Cabinet who can appreciate scientific research, but there may be others who scarcely know its true meaning and significance. Australia and Canada are working along the lines of the British scheme, and South Africa has an Industries Advisory Board in action ; only New Zealand remains unmoved. If it is worth while for Australia to find £SOOO for initial expenses and give a pledge to have £500,000 available for research it is surely incumbent on the Government of New Zealand to come into line with the rest of the Empire. The urgency of so doing is very clearly indicated in the recent report of the Industries Committee, wherein the subject is fully dealt with. The scheme outlined by the Committee is based on the establishment of a Board of Science and Industry having at its command for the first year a grant of £SOOO, and £20,000 for each of the four following years, it being the duty of the Board to consider all propositions for specific scientific researches and al- ' lot those researches to individuals. It is also proposed to make use of the professorial staffs of the university colleges, to establish scholarships, award bonuses, establish a reference library, obtain reports of new inventions, and also advise the primary producers and other industrialists as to the result of scientific investigations, including processes for the utilisation of waste products. It is suggested also that the Cawthron Institute at Nelson, which is largely endowed for similar work, should receive a Government subsidy on condition that it will co-operate to the fullest extent with the board in the carrying out of researches in any part of the Dominion. It will be thus seen that the necessary machinery for scientific industrial research is already available. Hitherto the policy of starvation ly barred the. way to obtaining results other than a modicum of theory. Brilliant students have either been obliged to abandon their work or make some other country the field of their investigations. This may have been due to the public's impression that scientific research was a fad, instead of which it is a money making proposition, and the only means whereby the future can be made secure and the way opened up for dealing with the new conditions that have arisen.