_t.-47

6

to be—to provide for scientific research ; to co-ordinate industrial investigation and research in South Africa; to co-operate with other Government Departments in South Africa and with similar Departments in the United Kingdom and the Dominions ; to carry out an economic survey of the resources- of South Africa ; and to deal with certain other economic, industrial, statistical, and educational matters. Both the Board and the committee are under the control of the Minister of Mines and industries. The committee has begun its work, by instituting a -general .survey of the position in the Union under forty-eight special headings, covering a wide range of natural and manufactured products of South Africa, each portion of the " survey " being entrusted to a reporter, who is apparently a scientific or technical expert. VI. NEW ZEALAND. The British memorandum on the suggestions for making the British scheme applicable to the whole Empire was leferred by the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs to Dr. Thomson for report. At that time the original Australian proposals were also available in New Zealand. Dr. Thomson's report consisted of two part , the first exposing the defects ol the pre-war relationship between science and industry, the second outlining proposals for New Zealand. It was pointed out that any scheme for Government organization was likely to fall short of the best results unless the national attitude to scientific investigation could be greatly improved, and the schools and colleges, the Workers' Educational Association, the museums and public libraries, the scientific societies, the cinematograph, and the Press were indicated as the agencies by which this education of the public might be carried out. In particular a popular journal of science and industry was advocated, but this was found to be impracticable owing to the shortage of paper. The machinery proposed lor the organization of research consisted of the Departments of Agriculture and of Mines as at present constituted and a new Department of Science and Industry, in which several existing Departments were to be merged- viz., the Dominion Laboratory, Observatoiy and Tidal Survey, Meteorological Office, Magnetic Observatory, Dominion Museum and Scientific Library, Geological Survey, Census and Statistics Office, Patents Office, and possibly also the Board of Trade. The new Department was to have, instead of an Under-Secretary, a salaried Board of three directors, of whom one should be an expert business and financial man with ability in organization, and the other two should be chosen mainly on account of scientific attainments and wide experience. Associated with the Board in advising the Minister as to the policy of the Department there was proposed an Advisory Council representative of science and industry, one of the functions of which was to review annually the scientific work of all Government Departments, as is done in India by the Board of Scientific Advice. Provision for the promotion ol scientific and industrial research was to be made in the form of a Research Institute on the Australian model, which would have a small permanent staff, but would work mainly by a series of industrial fellowships similar to those in the Mellon Institute of America, and would co-operate with the University colleges. These proposals were considered by the, Government as too ambitious to bring into operation during the war, and a simpler scheme was sought. In the meantime the British White Papers were submitted to the University colleges and to the General Council of Education. At the same time the various branches of the New Zealand Institute took up and discussed the question, and in Otago a separate body, the " Institute of Industrial Science of Otago," was set up to create a better organization of science in its relation to industry. A valuable report was published on the 20th November, 1916. by the Auckland Institute covering the whole question, and as an aid to the organization of national efforts it was .recommended that Local Advisory Boards of Science and Industry should be formed in the four child' centres, with secretaries in receipt ol a Government salary. The establishment of Government laboratories in each of four chief centres was advocated, providing not only for ordinary chemical analysis, but also for agricultural and bacteriological work. Chairs of Agriculture, with associated experimental stations, should be founded in connection with at least one University college in each Island. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute on the 31st January, 1917, the reports of the affiliated societies were adopted, and the following resolutions were passed :— (1.) That scientific research be endowed to a very much greater extent than has been done in the past. (2.) That- the importance of research in pure science be recognized as of equal importance with that in applied science. (3.) That as a definite step towards the endowment of research adequate provision be made for the appointment of fully qualified assistants to the Professors of Science in the four University colleges. (4.) That a Board of Science and Industry be constituted, to consist of— (a) Members selected by the New Zealand Institute ; (6) representatives of the scientific Departments of the Government; and (c) leaders in industry and commerce. This Board to recommend and direct research problems, and to have power to spend money voted by Parliament for the purpose, The New Zealand Institute further offered its services at a. deputation to the Acting Prime Minister, and received the reply that the matter would be referred to the National Efficiency Board, the setting-up of which was contemplated.