The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1926. PLAYING A PART.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 13 April 1926, Page 6

The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1926. PLAYING A PART.

The Minister of rind;.." levelled a grave charge against the farmei's of New Zealand, that agricultural development in the Dominion is twenty years behind the times. For this deplorable state of affairs he holds provincialism to ho 90 per cent, culpable, since the provincial squabbling for an agricultural college has seriously delayed educational progress as far as agriculture is concerned, and seriously hampered the complete application of science _ in, the primary industries. It is ratlror significant, that while the lion. A. D. McLeod hurls verbal brickbats at the slaves of provincialism, the, critics on the other side of the Tasman. Sea are asking; “Can Australia, as a nation, afford to spend on scientific, research a sum which would provide eacli inhabitant, with one glass of beer a. year?” This is one way-of putting- the expenditure which Sir Frank Heath estimates is required when the scheme which be lias recommended for the Common weft 1 till is in full operation. For the first year the sum of £40,000 would he. spent, anil for the second £50,000, but eventually the amount would rise to £IOO,OOO. And with the Commonweal Ill’s present population of, roughly, 0,000,000, the s>nn of £1.00,000 is 4d a head. The truth is, of course, us Mr McLeod suggests, that no country can afford not to spend whatever is necessary within reason to encourage scientific research. Mr McLeod seeks to place the blame for the delay in agricultural development on the shoulders of the die-hards of provincialism, but since twenty years lost is a heavy hill to debn. to provincialism, one of his critics urges, would it not he fairer to admit that a share of the blame must fall upon the men who have waited for the Government or the University or someone else to do something- for thorn? The organised primary industrics are strong—quite strong enough to arrange a system of research and education for themselves if they consider the Government slow in meeting the demand. The tendency, however, is quite in another direction, namely to coolly rely i n a grandmotherly Government to nurture the dependent-. Science and the application of science lie at the very root of national progress, and of national strength to-day. Australia, and New Zealand abound with problems for which scientific research alone can* supply a. solution. Success in dealing with one such problem or one of the many difficulties which confront the settler, would more than repay the whole expenditure, proposed in this country for scientific research during many years. Fortunately for the nation, men of science l , usually care little for material rewards. Many of (.inmost successful inventions are. based on the - long and arduous! work of research men who, themselves, made no l attempt to turn their discoveries into money. It is nevertheless eminently desirable that men of the right temperament and training- should not be permitted to turn their attention into other channels of activity. Unquestionably such men are not so numerous that the Dominion can afford, to lose their services. Given a modest competence, these men would usually he well content to give their brains to the advancement of' science and of the nation. It is essential, too, that, there should be some way of securing adequate publicity for the methods and results of scientific work. 'Too often the discoveries made are expressed in a. language that, is not under .stood except, by experts. After all, the taxpayers mill have to provide t.he funds for scientific research. It is necessary that they should bo enabled to realise that their money is being well spent. They must, lie kept, in touch, therefore, with what, is being dent- by the experts. Science is essential to the- progress of the nation, but in the long run science is international in character. It is concerned with the advancement of humanity as a whole. Doubtless it can he shown that tlie man of science is actuated by an iiresistible desire to .reive humanity rather ihan pocket big dividends. Luther Unibank whose death is reported in the cable, messages this morn-ing,-is an inspiring example. I Fence if mast not he forgollou that- Now Zealand benefits by the scientific work done in i flier countries, and the promptings of national self-respect shoal 1 encourage New Zealand to play her pari, by making a fitting eontribuiion to scientific, research.

ex inn itjon ivxcinis iu ns. With mnmietuhiblo proifiplitiKlethe Hailway authorities, have risen to the occasion in connection with the suggestion made in this journal yesterday that (lie people of this district should he afforded an opportunity before the Exhibition closes to avail themselves of the liberal concessions offered by the Department, for picnic, trains. As we planted out. yesterday - the: regulations provide that “excursion tickets, available for one day will he issued to picnic parties, numbering not less than 20 persons travelling together for recreation’ and not. for business purposes, and organised by any friendly society, school committee, trade or industrial union or other bod}'

approved by the Department.’* Specially generous reductions in fares are offered as an inducement to representative' societies to organise railway picnic parties. .For example, return fares say from Timaru to Dunedin (all one class) are: adults, 8s lOd; children, 4s lid. Yesterday we made ropre«6ntations to the railway authorities and the district traffic manager and the business agent for the' South Island, and an undertaking has been given that, if .sufficient inducement offers the j Department will run one, and if' necessary two, picnic party excursions to Dunedin on Saturday, April 24. In response to our suggestion, the Itailway authorities promised that one o'f the excursions might start, from Washdyke and thus handle the excursion traffic on that day from the northern end of the district, it: is gratifying in find the Hail way officials so keenly anxious to meet the requirements >of the public. “If the business is forthcoming,” said one official, “the Deportment, will do its Imst. to handle it.” That is the new spirit permeating the Itailway Department.; hence the promptitude with which the officials responded to our representations: All that remains now is for some reeognisod societies to rise to the occasion as the railway officials have done. Very little organisation is required, since there must ho hundreds of people who would gladly avail themselves of tin) very generous concessions offered by the Department to induce a record contingent of citizens, to join the proposed “picnic parties” on tlm 24th, and.have a. final plunge j„t 0 the enthusiasm, and gaieties of Dunedin’s Dig Show.