A VICIOUS CIRCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1919, Page 10

A VICIOUS CIRCLE.

DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY. NEED FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Are the great industrial countries moving in a vicious circle? The manifesto of the American Federation of Labor takes this view, and, moreover, suggests a remedy in an important manifesto which has been printed by Science, copies of which have been sent to President Wilson, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Kepresentatives,. The following is the text: — "WMreas, scientific research and the technical application of the results of research form a fundamental basis upon which the development of our industries, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and others must rest; and "Whereas, the productivity of industry is greatly increased by the technical application of the results of scientific research in physics, chemistry, biology, and geology, in engineering, and agriculture and the reiated sciences; and the health and well-being not only of the workers, but of the whole population as well, are dependent upon advances in medicine and sanitation; so that the value of scientific advancement to the welfare of the nation is many time* greater than the cost of the necessary research; and "Whereas the increased productivity of industry resulting from scientific research is a most potent factor in the ever-.increasing struggle of the workers to raise their standard of living, and the importance of this factor must steadily increase, since there is a limit beyond which the average standard of living of the whole population cannot progress by the usual methods of readjustment, which limit can be raised only by research and the utilisation of the results of research in industry; and "Whereas there are numerous important and pressing problems of administration and regulation now faced by Federal, | State, and local Governments, the wise solution of which depends upon technical and scientific research; and "Whereas the war has brought home to all the nations engaged in it the overwhelming importance of science and technology to national welfare, whether in war or in peace, and not only is private initiative attempting to organise far-reaching research in these fields on a national scale, but in several countries governmental participation and support of such undertakings are already active; therefore be it "Resolved by the American Federation of Labor in convention assembled that a broad programme of scientific and technical research is of major importance to the national welfare, and should be fostered in every way by the Federal Government, and that the activities of the Government itself in such research should, be adequately and. generously supported in order- that the work maj- be greatly strengthened' and. extended.?*