The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1917. SCIENCE AND THE STATE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2991, 31 January 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1917. SCIENCE AND THE STATE

Does the New Zealand University Senate realise t|io urgency of the need of improving our methods of scientific education? A perusal of tho discussion on tho question of science research leaves the impression that tho Senate is not worrying itself, very much over tlie mattor. This impression may ho a mistaken one—we hope it-is; but Professor Chilton's remark that the Senate did not have tho time at its disposal to deal properly with such a, wide subject naturally makes onefeel that the Senate is not convinced of the imperative necessity for prompt action with_ the object of securing greater efficiency in the teaching of science. It is some thing to have the assurance that tho question has not been shelved. Professor Cuilton stated that it would bo dealt with by the New 'Zealand Institute and ■ the Scienco and Art Board. It is hard to say what the outcome of this procedure will be. Certainly it means delay at a time when thoro is pressing need for getting things done. It would, of course-, be unreasonable to expect tho Senate to rush blindly forward; to make changes in haste and to repent of them at leisure. But some limits should be place'd to tho period of incubation. Valuable time- is being lost, and the country is getting tired of everlasting discussions which lead nowhere. We do not blame the Senate for declining to adopt the Chancellor's schemo for creating a Science Research Institute by uniting the various scientific departments of the Government to one of tho University colleges. As we have already pointed out, this proposal is open to criticism from several points of view. The Scienco Committee of tbe Senate is not prepared to support it, .and expresses the opinion that' as.j

the work- clone in t,ho Government Laboratory is largely of a routine na,),iive, it, docs not lend itself 1,0 the training of University students in •'.'eseareh work. Professor Scott's contention that it would lie. found impracticable to ask men doing Governmentresearch work to undertake the training of. students cannot ho lightly brushed aside. Such an arrangement might easily result in a good deal of friction and conflict ■of authority. But if the Senate is not satisfied with the. Chancellor's Research Institute scheme, it is its plain duty to devise a better way of making the science teaching provided by the University more useful to the community. This task must Got bo indefinitely postponed. The plea that the Sonata did not have sufficient time to deal properly with this question can hardly be taken seriouely. It is equivalent to an admission that tho Seriate cannot find time to_ do its plain duty. It is a confession that its time is so fully occupied with routine business and affairs of secondary importance that it is unable to attend to this absolutely! vital matter—a matter which lies at tho very heart of the problem of educational reconstruction, on the right solution of which the future of New Zealand and of tho Empire so largely depends. A cablegram published in yesterday's issue of The Dojunion stated that a committee had been set up in London to promote the development of tho Empire's resources, with a view to assisting in the payment of the war debt. Never in ffio history of tho "world has a greater opportunity presented itself for making use of scientific knowledge and scientific- method with the object of bringing the industries and commercial activities of the Empire to tho highest point of efficiency. In a book entitled The Elements of Reconstruction, which has recently made its appearance, it is stated that those who are attacking tho problem of the industrial reorganisation of the Empire* and those who are working for educational reconstruction must join hands., "Apart, both movements are likely to be far less effective than upon a broader common intention. Apart, each may much more easily fail. The British industrial and business probjem is to scrap the methods of 1850-60, and not to imitate Germany with a copy of her 1890-1900 methods, but to go right ahead to tho 1920 pattern." In order to achieve the best results, scientific research must be closely allied with industry. Customs, traditions, and prejudices which stand in the way of a firm and fruitful alliance between science and industry must be abandoned. In the presidential address delivered yesterday morning at the annual meeting of tho Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute,! Professor Benham declared that the , institute should impress upon the industrial community tile need for scientific organisation and co-operation. This certainly requires to be done, but it is equally necessary to impress upon the University Senate and other educational authorities the necessity of extending the scope and perfecting the methods of scientific instruction, and of doing everything possiblo to onablo scionco to do its beneficent work undor tho most favourable conditions. The authors of "Eclipse or Empire?" a very timely book", declare that if the Empire hiis tho wisdom and courage to give science a fair chance, it will not find much difficulty in paying for tho war. They assert that the saving of waste and the invention of new methods and materials would defray the whole expenses of the war in ono generation. "Assuming that 3300 million's of pounds will havebeen spent by the Empire, we shall I require a disbursement of 100 millions a year to wipo out the principal in thirty-three years, a little over i per cent, of our present income, which, is now estimated at 2400 millions. But that income ■ is , as nothing compared with what it would bo if industry and science joined hands." Tho application of scientific knowledge to tho problems of trade and industry on a comparatively small scale has already achieved .wonderful results. If scionco wero given the chance of making its full power felt in the work of developing the vast resources of the British Empire, no limits could be , " set to tho greatness of our prosperity. Tho policy of the State and the educational authorities with regard to scientific education has hithorto been characterised by timidity and lack of visiou; but there are indications of a change for tho better. Tho New Zealand Institute is giving closo attention to tho coordination of science and industry, and the Aucklaud Committee has presented a valuable report on the subject. ■' The war has been a manifestation of tho marvellous achievements of science. The public mind is now ready to welcome largo alterations tand extensions in our education system with the view of bringing tho teaching of science into closer and moro vital touch with tho industrial lifo of the 'community. The time is opportune for a big step forward.