RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13098, 24 April 1908, Page 6

RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS.

Tho action of the Government in. offering four research scholarships to graduates of the New Zealand University will bo heartilv approved by all who appreciate the enormous possibilities attending scientific research work in -what is still a comparatively now land. Problems inviting solution surround us on all sides. The nature of tho soils, tho character of tho minerals and the most profitable way of dealing with them, the economic values of our native trees and plants, the properties of native timbers, the life history of our food fishes, which has such an important bearing on the fish supply, the chemistry of tlie dairy industry, the useful and noxious insects, besides the many questions affecting the diseases of plants and 6tock on tho farm—all these await the careful and painstaking investigations of skilled scientists. And all of them, and others, are included in the list of subjects to which those selected for the scholarships may apply themselves. It would be ungrateful not to recognise tnat somo useful work has already been done by private effort in the vast field that lies before New Zealand scientists. But it is most gratifying that the Government should reoognise that it has duties in the matter, and should take upon itself tbe responsibility of stimulating and encouraging j*oung New Zealandors to dovoto themselves to work which can hardly faid to benefit the Dominion and may prove to bQ of enormous vahie. The regulations governing the scholarships have now been published- and it is pleasant to note that they aro drawn up on a generous scale. The holder of a scholarship will receive £100 a year, his College and laboratory fees will be paid, he will bo provided with amy special apparatus and books that ho may require, and* ho will bo reimbursed tho oosfc of any travelling he imay havo to undertake while engaged inresearch work. Each scholarship is tenable for two yeans, but may be renewed for a tWnd year on the recommendation of the Scholarship Board of the holder's University, with the ap proval of tho Minister. In return for this substantial assistance it is required that all the results of tho research carried on by each holder of a scholarship shall become the property of tbe Government, to whom a detailed report of tho work must bo made. The Minister may, at his discretion, publish any report and no other publication- of results is to be made, except by pecranissaon- of the Minister. On tho face of it, the condition vesting in the Government any results accruing from the investigations, seems reasonable. Tho Stato provides the moans by which the research work is to be oonducted, and it thus has a claim, in the interests of the community, to the information thus acquired. But there is another aspect of the question. A scholarship holder may, in the course of his work, make a discovery of great commercial value. In such a case it would bo only right th'at he should reap somo benefit from the result of his research, otherwise somo of tho stimulus towards sustained and possibly arduous effort will bo removed. The Minister willj we hope, take this point into consideration. Wo hope the results of the new scheme will justify the Government, at some futuro time, in extending tho assistance it is now giving to scientific- work in New Zealand. Tho training that tho scholarship holders will receive during the two or three years they are working under the scheme will be of immense benefit to them, apart from any practical results they may achieve. A good deal is being attempted in experimental work of all kinds, particularly in the Agricultural Department, and some of the research scholars should be able to help the Government very materially in conducting experiments which, in capable hands, would be of great value to the producing interests of New Zealand.