SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1919, Page 7

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

THE CAWTHRON INSTITUTE. !A SUBSIDY ASKED FOR. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, October 31. A deputation of scientists and others Muereeted in tile application of scienti-" PC rsesarch to primary and secondary industries in the Dominion interviewed wie Prime Minister and the Minister of •Fnance to-day, urging that the Governnient should subsidise the Cawthron wstitute at Nelson to the extent of £2OOO a year. That amount, it was pointed out, would he equal to 0 per cent, on the £40,000 paid by the Cawthron bequest as death duties. The Bishop of Nelson stated that all the proposals of the trustees would end m increasing the production of the country. Owing to paying £40,000 death duties the capital" had been brought down to slightly over £200,000, and, as a result of that deduction, worlc in connection with plant path°l°gy would fall short of what was desired.

Other speakers stressed the importance of research work.

Mr, Massey, replying, referred to tfte late Mr, Cawthroa m a benefactor to the Dominion as a whole. It was recognised that the Institute should have every encouragement, but it must not be forgotten that the Government of the day was purely tne trustee of the finance of the country and had to administer the law as it found it, and if death duties were remitted in one case it would be necessary to remit them in all.

Mr. T. A. Field, M.P., said the death duty was remitted in the Act passed with regard to the Howard estate.

Mr. Massey, continuing, said he believed valuable results would come from the work of the Institute. He would place the matter before the Cabinet and promise it would receive sympathetic consideration.

The Minister of Finance Rtated hc regretted that, in his opinion, it was not possible for the Government to accede to the request in the present state of the country's finances, which would need very serious consideration.