SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 258, 31 October 1925, Page 16

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

RESEARCH WORK IN NEW ZEALAND. Shortly after the commencement of ;he war the Government of New Zeaand was invited by the British Government to set up an organisation for .he co-ordination of scientific and iniustrial research. Beyond some general discussion, however, nothing of a practical nature resulted from the suggestion of the Home Government. The position is that there is at present no .o-ordination of research work. There Is a good deal of research being carried on by the Cawthron Institute and by several Government Departments, particularly in connection with agriculture. Aa was to be expected, where there are a number of workers and no co-ordin-ation, there is a certain amount of overlapping. Although many important industries in the Dominion employ the latest scientific methods, there is great room for improvement in others. The question of dealing effectively with byproducts and waste materials require! greater consideration than it has yet re ceived. This problem has been taker up to a certain extent by manufac turers' associations throughout tht Dominion. ' A proposal was made by the Canterbury Industrial Association that a Department of Industrial Research be set up! This suggestion was referred by the Government to a special committee consisting of representatives of the Industrial Association and several specially qualified officers of Government Departments. In order to give the help that industrialists require, the suggestion was made that a science laboratory should be established —practically an extension of the existing Dominion laboratory, to include tests of a physical nature. The functions of the Dominion laboratory : would under this plan be extended to include, amongst other things, .standardisation of measuring apparatus for manufacturers as a test of their output: or, for the user, that he may verify instruments or materials independently; determination of the properties of materials for general use in technology and trade; also, a number of other" Tespects in which scientific research can assist industries. The report of this committee has been referred to Sir- Ernest Rutherford *_._.■ ■_.:_ o-n<" o_l\n_*. and he has

■been asked to express his views on the whole question of the assistance which may he given hv scientific research, to the' industries of New Zealand, through the co-ordination and extension of research activities.