SCIENCE CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 88, 10 January 1923, Page 6

SCIENCE CONGRESS

Sir,—In studying the programme of the Science Congress I have been much struck by the inadequate attention, which seems to be given to the sections for geography and history and social and statistical science, and. the complete absence of public administration. Considering our responsibilities in the Pacific, it seems to I*/ that the association would do well to develop this side of its activities, and I have written suggesting that it should do so. Without robbing any of the natural science sections, a complete new section could bo -added for tho study of the many problems which surround us in this unknown Pacific Ocean, where both Australia and New. Zealand have now so many responsibilities. In the programme of this year’s congress there are only three papers on the field which I am suggesting should be taken up, viz., Professor Macmillan Brown’s on Easter Island: Dr. Sullivan’s on Polynesian diversities;, and my own on the economic revolution in Polynesia. . My suggestion is that the new section should cover: 1 Economic conditions in nil countries in and bordering on the Pacific. 2. History and geography of the same area. 3. Government of native races. 4. Depopulation and repopulatdon or the islands. , 5. Philology, ethnology, and anthropology of the Pacific. 6. Labour and migration.

7. Trade. 8. Social organisation.. 9. Comparative legislation . and methods of government (British, French, American, German, and JapanIf this were adopted the Science Association would have much more authority than the so-called. Pan-Pncifio Congress at Hawaii, and it would be of immeasurable help to both Australia and New Zealand in coping with their problems in the Pacific. We should probably have at our discussions representatives from the. dependencies of France, Japan, America, and Brit-ain.-I gcHOLEFIELD. Masterton.