THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1912 WORLD KNOWLEDGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10714, 7 September 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1912 WORLD KNOWLEDGE.

The report furnished by Mr T. Buckley, Chief Electrician to tho Post and Telegraph Department of JS T ow Zealand, is of an exceedingly interesting and valuable character. Mr Buckley recently mado a tour of America and Europe, to pick up ideas which mny be useful in the conduct of the Department, and he has so far succeeded in his pursuit of knowledge that he is able to recommend -improvements in the service which will result in additional public convenience, and effect a saving of thousands of pounds to the Dominion. The experience which haa been gained by an officer of the Post and Telegraph Department should serve as an inspiration to the Government, and result in officials of other Departments being despatched to the older countries on a similar mission. Veterinary and other officers of the Agricultural Department might, for instance, be sent to the laboratories of the world to equip themselves with scientific knowledge. Parties of t school teachers might also with actvantage be sent to America, England and the Continent. The cable told us only a few weeks back that a large party of Canadian teachers were touring France and Germany. Here is an example which might well be followed by New Zealand. The fact of a party of New Zealanders travelling together in a foreign country for the purpose of gleaning knowledge would of itself serve as an advertisement to the Dominion. Far more important, I however, would b e the disseminating among the rising generation of the information so gleamed. The enst of these expeditions would probably be something considerable. But in this, as in all-other things, we must consider whether the ends to Tie attained do not justify the mean?. The reason that it is found necessary at the present time to import a General Manager of our railways" ig that; we have not in the Dominion an official who in acflaaanted with' rap-to-dat* and econn- J tnio methods. While it is highly tie- ' airabls iSifiM 'r# dionld keep abreast

of the times in our public services, j however, and while an immense benefit

would be derived by sending picked men from the service round the world, it is also desirablo that we should give gerater encouragement than is given at the present time to the bright young men of the Dominion: who are of an inventive turn of mind. We have reason to think that in our railway workshops, our Postal Department, and in various other branches of the public service, important labour-sav-ing discoveries have been made; but these have been treated with yilent contempt because they have emanated from subordinates. This is not as it Ahoukl be. Any man who gives to the country an idea that will effect economy, and add to the convenience of the public, should receive full compensation and recognition at the hands of the State. In Amoi-ica men of genius, and of an inventive turn of mind, command fabulous salaries. They are not permitted to hide their light beneath the. bushel. So it should be in Xew Zeahnd. We have only a million of population. But our young men are healthy, virile and mentally capable. All that i £l required is that their ambition should be developed. We trust, therefore, that the Government will not. only send responsible officers to the older countries to glenn information concerning up-to-date methods,, but that it will oifer inducements to those who remain at home to give their very best to the service in which they are employed. By this means only shall we be able to maintain our position as a progressive unit i nthe great Empire.