The Daily News MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1926. CO-ORDINATED RESEARCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1926, Page 8

The Daily News MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1926. CO-ORDINATED RESEARCH.

While the year 1926 lias been made memorable by virtue of the unparalleled achievements of the Imperial Conference, the outcome of which is regarded as creating a new epoch in the history of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the year 1927 bids fair to become remarkable, only in a slightly less degree, for forward moves in the fields of scientific research .and economies. How closely these two subjects are interwoven is at once apparent when it is considered that both exercise a direct influence on the material and physical welfare of the people in any and every country. The world economic conference, which the League of Nations is expected to convoke, will probably cover a very wide field of operations in connection with finance, agriculture, population, industrial production, labour problems, commerce, tariffs, tiansport, the distribution of raw materials, and other allied matters. According to the report of the Research Committee set up by the Imperial Conference, it is deemed advisable to take advantage of the special inter-Empire Conference, which has already been arranged for 1927, in order to extend the use of further bureaux on the lines of the existing bureaux of entomology and tropical medicine, the main idea being to establish an organisation fulfilling the functions of a “clearing-house for the dissemination of scientific and technical information somewhat analagous to the present Imperial Institute.” It is claimed that the experience of the three British research departments, in relation tn agriculture, medicine and science, show the urgent need of direct communication between them and corresponding organisations elsewhere in the Empire, more especially as it is suggested that special, bureaux should be established for particular arts, such as horticulture, mining, or any manufacturing industry. Important results have already been obtained in different parts of the Empire and under varying local conditions, but the present machinery for the interchange of these results is admittedly imperfect, hence the need for a welldefined system that will advance the work of research throughout the Empire by means of direct exchange of information. Obvious-

ly, if the results of research work are to be of real, practical value, those engaged therein must necessarily be adequately equipped with the highest qualifications, given the best possible training and their emoluments should be such as to attract men in the forefront of specialised scientific work connected with the development of national resources. The report of the committee strongly emphasises the importance of having upon the staffs of research institutions men with experience in different parts of the Empire, so there should be provision made by each Dominion for travelling research scholarships to enable the all-round experience to be gained, and facilities afforded by the respective Governments for the interchange of research students. Although New Zealand has by slow degrees come to recognise the need for and value of scientific research in connection with her primary industries, the fringe of the matter has only been touched, there being a vast and unexplored field as yet neglected in the direction of unfolding numerous resources of inestimable value. Possibly this neglect may be due to the prosperity of the past, but the time has arrived when economic pressure demands the development of every aid to progress and prosperity. It is asserted in the report that the poorer any country is, the greater its need to develop its scientific resources; also that the Empire’s enormous potentialities cannot be fully developed without the aid of science. There ean be no diversity of opinion on these contentions. Many men of lofty ideals have given all they possess, even their lives, to the service of their fellows in the field of research.. Others equally desirous of embarking on this useful career would welcome the chance to undertake the work under satisfactory conditions. May it not be rightly claimed that it is the duty of every unit of the Empire to stimulate scientific research and facilitate that co-ordination whereby results can be pooled and an incentive thereby given to increase production, lowering its cost, opening up new avenues of wealth by the creation of new industries? Present conditions demand action. Every unit of the Empire ean help in the work which will enable the future to be faced with confidence, and be the means of solving problems vital to the wellbeing of the Empire as a whole.