93

1.—12.

J. LOUDON.

To Mr. Graigie: I could not state the number of men engaged in wool-scouring all the year round, but 1 know the number of men we employ. The additional scouring would mean the employment of more men, and it would also mean an economy in freights. To Mr. Forbes: In the past wages seem to have been very much lower in Bradford than in the Dominion, but, if we are to judge by the trend of events in the Old Country, it seems to me that in the future the disparity in wages will not be so great. In regard to the wool-scouring plants, it is not necessary that they should be Government plants. I think it is possible for all the interested parties in the Dominion to combine and have comprehensive plants erected. I omitted to mention that the by-products are very valuable —potash, wool-grease, and lanoline. Under my scheme proper scientific methods should be inaugurated with respect to the whole of the by-products. Thousands and thousands of pounds in value in the by-products are now running down the streams which could be saved. To Mr. Luke: I do not think our propiosal if carried out would prejudicially affect the placing of our wool on the British market in any way; there are plenty of markets foJ our wool. To Mr. Veitch: In the early days a pretty large percentage of the clips were shipped as scoured. It seems to me that the question of research is absolutely ignored here. That is shown by the fact of the Government only putting £250 on the estimates for research work. To the Chairman: If the wool were shipped scoured there would be an immense saving in freight. As to the suggestion that only a certain percentage of the wool should be scoured, I think if you are going to make an improvement half-measures are no good. The machinery is simple for wool-scouring; there might be a little delay in getting the driers. We do not do any drying ourselves in the open. We have been experimenting for some little time in connection with wool-grease, but so far we have not been quite successful. If there is any place in the world that should be able to produce sulphuric acid it is New Zealand; we have the raw materials here. Mr. Loudon: The second point I wish to refer to is in connection with agriculture and seedraising in Central Otago. lam referring to this matter as a member of the Repatriation Board and as a member of the Expansion League. It seems to me that the avenues of employment can be very much extended. I am not giving only my own views in regard to this matter. 1 have discussed it with one of the largest seed-merchants in New Zealand, and he informs me that there is an unlimited demand in the world's markets for good seed. Every product of New Zealand has the mark of excellence on it, and it seems to me that as Central Otago produces the finest seed in the world, this is an industry that should receive the attention of the Committee and of the Government. The seed-merchant I have mentioned is prepared to go to great lengths in assisting our Board and the Government. He will give a fixed quotation for all seeds raised here. I hope to lay before the Repatriation Board a proposal to ask the Government to give us authority to either lease a block of land or buy it. Part of that land might be taken up by returned soldiers; there should be a thorough demonstration of the business by settling say twenty or thirty soldiers on the block. We would require an expert in seed-raising to control it, and probably a farm-manager to control the labour. Under the Repatriation Act soldiers are entitled to a certain amount: that would be paid possibly as wages; and if at the end of the year there was a profit on the work I think the whole of that profit should be divided amongst the soldiers. I would like the Committee to help us in inducing the Government to assist in this experimental project. I am convinced that not a penny would be lost, but that a handsome profit would be made. To Mr. Hornsby: In the case of many of the poor fellows who come back from the war their nerves are shattered, but their condition in that respect is only temporary; that is one reason why I think an out-of-door life like this would be a splendid means of rehabilitating those men. 1 think it would be a very good scheme. I will certainly include this scheme in my suggestions to the Repatriation Board. Mr. Loudon: The only other question that 1 wish to bring before the Committee is the lack of sympathy that has been manifested in connection with research work. I think that a tremendous lot can be done in that direction. In our own city we have turned out a number of very fine men —scientists and others —but there is no doubt that many others have been attracted to other countries owing to the greater inducements offered there. I have suggested on several occasions that I think it would be quite a reasonable thing if the Government selected two or three men from the North Island and two or three from the South Island —brilliant science students —and gave them a fixed salary for a certain number of years, so that they could devote the whole of their time and talents to research work, principally in investigating questions connected with the eliminating of waste in connection with our primary industries, and also in testing the potential resources of the Dominion. I understand that the Efficiency Board has submitted a scheme in this direction to the Government, but from what I have heard it means the creation of another State Department rather expensively conducted. Ido not think that elaborate buildings are necessary. I think a plain building would do, with water-power and everything attached, and with a scientific man in charge. He would have, of course, the necessary assistance in the way of appliances, &c, and would test anything submitted to him with the object of bringing it right into a commercial and manufacturing centre. My grievance is that we have a University that is not in close enough touch with our ordinary everyday life, and I think if something can •be done in that direction it will help the Dominion very much. To Mr. Forbes: There is a general desire that research work should be brought into touch with everyday life. I think the Government should give at least, £100,000 a year for this work. To Mr. Luke: The question of preventing overlapping has received our attention. I think the whole of the colleges would be in close touch with one another and with one another's experiments.