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Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17058, 1 February 1921, Page 6

The need for the application of scientific research, to New Zealand industries was indicated at the Science Congress at Palmerston North last week, in some remarkable statements by Professor East-erfield. In the course of a discussion on the blight that is affecting the flax in the Manawatu district, the Professor declared that the flaxmillera were guilty of great waste. One hundred pounds of leaf, ho said, gave 53 per cent, of Tret fibro and 47 per cent, of waste, which was merely the epidermis of the leaf. The 53 per cent, of wet .fibre meant 23 per cent, of 'dry fibre, or, if washed, 19.8 per cent., 'but if washed and bleached 18} per cent. By the time the fibre was put through the scutcher only 13 per cent, remained, and in tho final stage 12 per cent, remained. That is, that from every 1001b of leaf, 121b of marketable fibre is hecured. From the waste, whicli we be- j lievo is burned as fuel in the millB,! Professor Ensterfield said water and juico could be squeezed containing 6 per cent. of which would yield 3 per cent, of alcohol, and he calculated that 30,000 gallons of this alcohol could ,bo prodt£ced at tho Mara-nui and Wekaj

mills per annum, while from the ash resulting from burning the dry waste matter could be obtained potash and nitrogen. In view of the demand for alcohol for industrial purposes, it seems foolish to. neglect such a source of supply, at a time when scientists in several parts of the world are experimenting with a view to obtaining it from all manner of waste substanoes, and thus providing a substitute for oil.

There have been published of late numerous criticisms of the American picture films, impugning severely their accuracy as representations of American life and manners. The most trenchant criticism of this nature that we have seen appeared last month in the editorial columns of the "New York Herald.'' The writer refers to the amazing popularity abroad of moving pictures depicting the life of tho "Wild West, and goes on to say: "Yet there is no other type of picture so untrue to present*conditions. No other has been so severely criticised for its wilful distortion of reality. At the best these pictures might be taken to show tlu> life of certain small Western communities thirty years ago. A long time has passed since. the lawlessness which forms the motive of these Western pictures has been tolerated anywhere ui tho United Statos. But filmed cowboys still shoot up towns with all the insouciance that the movie directors are able to command in their actors." The "Herald'' suggests that this taste may partly be due to tho European visits of Buffalo Bill, but it forgets to take into account the fact that for more than a generation the young people of Great Britain and the Dominions, and

no doubt those of other countries, have fed full and deep on Wild West stories that were simply movie films in print. This is cert-ainly a factor in the delight with which audiences of a certain class and ago view what they regard as representations of the real thing, "of a pioneer life which," as the "Herald" says, "ceased to be years ago.'' They are no doubt "gross libels" on American institutions, but that fact will nbt, we fancy, affect their popularity with the boy part of picture show crowds. The proceedings at yesterday's Cabinet meeting were pleasantly varied by the Prime Minister, on beihalf of the Ministry, making a presentation to SirWilliam Herries on the eve of the latter's departure on a visit to England. Few members of the Government or of the House are more generally popular, either in or out of Parliament, than the genial representative of Tauranga. His ability is recognised by his political opponents no less than by his party, and the worst i3iing that is said about him, is that only a certain easy indolence of temperament has • prevented him from taking a much more prominent part iiu the Dominion's politics than has been the case. As Native Minister he possessed, deservedly, tho confidence of the Native race, and though he and some of the representatives of Labour looked) at certain questions intuitively almost from opposite poles, his tact and straightforwardness arid good-fellowship enabled hiin to carry out the duties of Minister of Labour much more successfully and with much greater acceptance by Labour members and officials, than many believed possible when he was given that portfolio. Sir William's coming trip is undertaken partly for reasons of health, and all will echo Mr Massey's Wish that he will return fully restored, and ready to lesitme Ministerial work again. There are not so many really ! able men irr the House that New Zealand can afford to lose the services oC ! one' of tdie ablest.