THE CHEMICAL LABORATORY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13102, 29 April 1908, Page 6

THE CHEMICAL LABORATORY.

Tho letter from Dr. Evans, -which we publish in this issue, explains quite satisfactorily why only £81 has so far been subscribed by the public towards the erection, of the new chemical laboratory at Canterbury College. For various reasons, which Dr. Evane supplies, the Citizens' Committee that was appointed to canvass for subscriptions contented itself, for the time being, with sending out a preliminary circular. Under the circumstances we must admit that tho response, though not so largo as one would like, was piobably quite ac much as could bo expected. Tho circular would do little more than prepare the -way for the personal canvassing which alone is effective in such caste, and for which oven the most generous people seem to wait. "Bis dat gui cito dat" is an admirable motto—from tho collector's point of view, but the man who translated it, "He who gives quickly "has to give twioe," probably represented the opinions of a good many donors. It is at least, a rather prevalent idea that anyone who promptly forwards a cheque in reply to an appeal for funds rune more risk of being invited to contribute again than tho men who allows himself to be persuaded into giving a donation. We are not mentioning this as in any eonse an- argument in favour of assistance being given tardily to the laboratory fund, but merely as a probable reason for the small response to the first application. The urgent necessity for tho new laboratory has been explained on previous occasions; it may bo added, however, that tho est&bKehment of tho science research scholarships by tho Government makes its erection aaid adequate equipment a matter of even greater importance than it was before. The project* is one for which the committee can justifiably ask tho support of all classes, for chemical science benefits alike, tile farmer, the manufacturer, and the worker, and- as we showed the other day, enormous possibilities attend the prosecution of scientific roeearoh work in New Zealand. We said yesterday that it was difficult to believe that £81 represented all that Canterbury was willing to give to such a cause; Tfe are glad to learn that it is only a beginningj and that ere Jong the committee will make .a more strenuous and urgent appeal to tho generosity of the , community.