SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 16, 2 July 1920, Page 8

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

The application of scientific research to our industrial activity is one which has been sadly neglected in this country. Our universities have turned out very successful men in the reaJm of scientific investigation, but through our failing to appreciate the value of research work they have had to leave the country in crder to find a field where their knowledge coul'l be rut into practical use. The logical" d"' ceme of these conditions is to defeat the aims for which onr universities are founded. The. primary object of these institutions is to educate men and women along lines that they will be able to render service to the various spheres of human life and actiou. If our present systcrx is fulfilling its object in imparting the rcquisite knowledge for such "service," and then we lose that service through our own neglcct or prejudice of research — then it is time the Government made a careful auolysis of the relatiehship cf science to industry. Tn a recent influential deputation to the Minister for Education, Professor Llacmillan Brown said "that the promotion of industry in New Zealand, required the assistance of men of scientific attainments. Young scientists from the universities ought to be working on the many problems that awaited solution in the Dominion. The e?o was bound to be considerable but tbe irr.portance of the work would be enormous. " It is pccsible that the factor of expense may have r retarding effect in our utilising the services of a man of science, but when we see Education Boards applying for men and women with Uitiversity degrees at a salary of £250 per anunm, wo have dif-ficul-ty in bringing about a reconciliation between these two circumstances. The money expended in research work is reproductive and not «? loss. The Minis- ; ter's rnggestnE, cf ccholarships or bur--a-iss is not extensive and would "ily assist men to get education to render ssrvice. It does not provide for what Dr. Thompson pointed out to the Minister. "That men would not take up research work unless they saw a ca-reer ahead." What is wanted in this country is a strong advisory C'ouncil of scientific men whose duty embraees : —

(1) Proposals for instituting specific researches. (2) Proposals for establishing or developing special institutions for the scientific study of problems affecting particular industries riA trades. (3) The ';ablishn\er.t and award of research studvctships and fellowshipsc Viseount Bryce, in the House of Lords, on Jcly 2, 1915, made the following significant a i nission : "Every p>ossible effort should be made to ulili.se the services of scientific men. They all .Vnew to how great an extent the German Government had turned the services of scientific men and establishments for investigoticn and research to account for military pcrposes." During the war economic pressure was brought to bear upon Germany and the assistance of science was rsceivul to ..ssisi in the manufactnre of muni.Ens. Nicric acid was prL_^cipally made from naturally occuring nitrates but the British Fleet prevented supplies. Germany's response was to manufaciure nitric acid from the constitue'nts of the atmosphere. Tnwards the latter stages of the war tho British Government recognised the necessity of calling the assistance of men of science and valuable contributions wero made towards the successful prosecution of the war. New Zealand is a country with a magnificent- physical setting; its resources are unlimited and we must see that its. resources are developed alonc scientific lines and thereby increase thl Dominion 's efficiency. We must organise scientific education. If we do not institute an improved system of science education we will make no headway in industrial activity. In 1916, Mr King, in the House of Commons, stated "Everybody who thinks of it, and who studies the question must know that Germany's position in the world to-day is due, not to real genius of her people, so much as to organisation, combined with education, and especially scientific education. I am very pleased that at this time

there' is opportunity for an educational advance. It was in the year 1809, only two years after the peace of Tilsit, that Prussia started the University of Berlin. Prussia had been robbed of half its territory by the peace of Tilsit, which also imposed upon it an enormous indemnity. It had to support a huge French army of occupation. Yet in that very time Stein and Humboldt founded the University of Berlin which has become for its equipment and influence in scientific matters, one of the greatest Universities in the world. They also established at the same time, when the taxes were simply overwhelmingly crushing, the elementary school system of Prussia which remains to this day. I say that a nation th?„t could so appreciate, in its hour of rain, the value of education, is a lesson for us which we ought to take to heart."