SCIENCE CONGRESS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10134, 12 January 1911, Page 5

SCIENCE CONGRESS

EXPLORATION OF ANTARCTICA

DR. MAWSON'S EXPEDITION. (Received l;fist Night, 9.15 o'clock.) SYDNEY, January 11. At the, Science Congress to-day, Dr. Mawson read a paper on "Antarctica." After reviewing the work of Antarctic explorers, he dealt with his own proposed expedition. He declared | that Australians were just 'as well able to hear the rigorous conditions of high latitudes as those-born there. If ever an Australian expedition was to start under the most favourable circumstances, with the future so well assured, it must be immediately. If there was any delay a foreign nation might step in, and. the most valuable portion of. Antarctica be lost, for ever from, the control of Australia. Ah expedition would stimulate . the spirit of maritime enterprise, which lvas an indispensable elfement in 'national greatness. Ho would be fully ■ prepared to start in November. The work would take seventeen months, or one winter and two summers —possibly two winters arid three summers. The estimated cost would be £40,000. He appealed to wealthy Australians to assist. He asked, could the scientific Societies remain content to allow distant countries to poach on their reserves? Could Australians remain heedless? This land had great potentialities, and was lying at their very doors. EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE. Mr Potts, Principal of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, read a > paper on the necessity of education in agriculture. Tie urged the value of a connecting link between the public schools and agricultural colleges, and of winter schools for farmers. FEDERATION. Mr Rabin, of Sydney, read a paper on the Federal system of Government. He concluded by saying that notwithstanding the imperfections of Federation, and all its weaknesses, it was • infinitely preferable to separation and the independence of the States which . jare capable of sortie degree of union. OTHER PAPERS. Professor Marshall, of New Zealand, contributed an interesting paper on the geology of the Cook and Society . Islands. • Mr G. E. Adams, of New Zealand, read a paper on tidal observations and predictions, and the control of the Wellington tide gauge. Many other papers of purely scientific or local interest were discussed in various sections. INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES. Mr H. Braddon read a paper on the compulsory principle in the settlement of industrial disputes. "He reviewed, the effect of the principle in New Zealand: As far... as Australia was concerned, the Arbitration Acts had resulted in repressing sweating, and materially benefiting'' "the conditions of the employees, but it was unfortunate that the Acts also tended to embitter the relations between • the employers and the employees; As a means of preventing strikes, the Wages Boards were greatly preferable to the Arbitration Court: but, even the "Wages Board was not likely to be' of much use in that direction in periods of declining prosperity, and when the awards were averse to the men.