FAMOUS CANTERBURY SCIENTISTS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23942, 8 May 1943, Page 4

FAMOUS CANTERBURY SCIENTISTS

SIR JOHN MADSEN’S TRIBUTE “Lord Rutherford, would be delighted at the way in which you intend to commemorate his work by establishing a scholarship for research, for what is the function of a university but to stimulate research and inquiry, especially in the method of thought?” said Sir John Madsen, Professor of Electrical Engineering at Sydney University, when recalling at the graduation ceremony yesterday some of his associations with distinguished graduates of Canterbury University College. Sir John Madsen said that ne recalled with gratitude the helpfulness of Lord Rutherford. Australia had benefited by the influence he had exerted in his particular branch of science.

Sir George Julius and Dr. C. Coleridge Farr were other New Zealand scientists to whom Sir John Madsen paid tribute. He mentioned that Professor F. W. G. White was at present doing special work “of the greatest importance to Australia."

The chairman of the College Council (Mr A. E. Flower) referred to the loss the college had suffered in the deaths of Dr. H. G. Denham, Dr. Farr, Professor J. E. L. Cull, and Mr H. D. Acland v He said that scholarships were already planned to commemorate Dr. Denham’s great interest in the formation of a School of Engineering Chemistry, but the matter of buildings and equipment still had to be arranged.

Mr Flower said in his opening remarks that the outlook on all war fronts seemed brighter than at the last ■capping day. and he hoped that graduates were alive to the great opportunities opening before them. Complimenting the College Choral Society on their musical presentations, Mr Flower thanked Dr. T, Vernon Griffiths for the service he had given to the community since he had taken the Chair of Music by arranging various recitals.