AN END TO INDIFFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume 246, Issue 246, 16 October 1926, Page 8

AN END TO INDIFFERENCE.

By an interesting coincidence, in the week in which the personnel of the new Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is announced, a member of it gives some impressive examples of what other countries have done in this direction. Addressing the Industrial Conference in Christehurch on Wednesday, Professor H. G. Denham, of Canterbury College, recalled that before the war one German factory alone employed more research chemists than were to be found in the whole of Australia and New Zealand. Some of the figures cited of American research showed how feeble have been our own efforts. The Bureau of Standards irr Washington spends nearly half a million sterling in a year; the Carnegie Institute has a revenue of £220,000, and has a staff of 154 scientists; the National Research Council has spent £15,000 In two years on one line of research, fatigue of metals. It is computed that the interest on £126,000,000 is being absorbed in the United States alone in fellowships, prizes, and other such provision for the encouragement and support of scientific research. Britain, says Professor Denham. is realising that research is vital to her prosperity, and, nearer home, fine work has been done in Australia, where it is estimated that plant diseases cost the country five millions in a year, and the cattle tick has meant a loss to Queensland of six millions. In New Zealand we have our own problems, and, lulled by prosperity, we have been very slow to give to research its due attention. The appointment of a Council of Research in terms of Sir Frank Heath's

report means the definite end of the period of indifference. The personnel of the Council is excellent. The scientific world is well represented by such men as Professor Denham, of Canterbury College, and Mr. Rigg, of the admirable Cawthron Institute; and industrial interests will be well looked after by Mr George Shirtcliffe and Mr. Charles Rhodes. The Government has appointed a body that will command general confidence.