INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16471, 14 March 1919, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH.

A CENSUS. OF MANUFACTURE.

With tho war now at an end there every prospect of matters in connexion with scientific and industrial research being prosecuted on very definite lines. At intervals during the past year the New Zealand Institute Scientific and Industrial Research Committee, set up at the request of the National Efficiency Board, has been in communication with tho Minister of Internal Affairs concerning a Dominion scheme of scientific and industrial research, and the undertaking of a census of past research, actual problems of industry awaiting _ solution, and of -available laboratories and research workers. -Last month the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute resolved: — "That the Minister of Internal Affairs be asked whether he can now make further communication on the matter of the census of industries." The Minister recently replied that the "Census of Industrial Manufacture' * "will bo takon for the year ending March 30th, 1919, and thereafter annually. A deputation from tho Stan dine "Committee thereupon waited on the Minister, and pointed out that the census of industrial manufacture, taken, by the Government- Statistician, . would be of great value, but did not cover the ground contemplated. The Minister stated that he considered that the Board of Science and Art had more statutory power than the New Zealand Institute to conduct such an enquiry on scientific and industrial research matters as had been proposed. ..A report on the above was presented at Monday's meeting of the Board of .Science and Art. The Minister of Internal Affairs. who was present, pointed out that beyond the preparation of an annual census he could at present do nothing further. He was. however, preoared, now that the war was over, and the Board was in a position to enter noon a more ambitions-stase of the work, to bnn E the matter before Cabinet at its next meetinc. The effect of the annual census, instead of a fiveyearly census, will be, the Minister I pointed out, a yearly statement in regard to the position of industries -which j will be of benefit to the Government, j the employers, and to labourers