INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 62, 7 December 1926, Page 10

INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

DR. MARSDEN’S VISIT TO AUSTRALIA “DOMINION MUCH TO LEARN” AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION Satisfied that the Dominion has much to learn from the Commonwealth in the direction of research work in industry, the Permanent Secretary of the recently-created Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Dr. E. Marsden) returned to Wellington from Australia yesterday. To obtain first-hand information as to the working of the Australian Research Council, and to consult with them so as to enable the two Departments to work in co-operation and avoid overlapping of effort along fundamental lines, was the object of his visit.

Dr. Marsden stated that Australia was getting right down to the job of industrial research and had thoroughly keen and alert minds engaged. They had made good and had received great support and encouragement from all sides. Of a Government grant of £lO,OOO, vested in the name of the executive, 80 per cent, of the interest was expended on the training of research students, and an expenditure of £250,000 during four years had been authorised in order to carry on research work which would benefit primary and secondary industries. “One of the difficulties,” added Dr Marsden, “that the Australian council has to contend' with is the finding of suitable men for the work. The supply is insufficient. Posts are advertised carrying salaries of £l2OO a vear, but men really trained for the work cannot lie obtained. To overcome this difficulty in Victoria the Government makes provision for the thorough training of suitable students by giving free university education to specially-selected ones to enable them to undergo a four years’ course for the agricultural degree. After suitable field experience they are, in some cases, sent to Great Britain and America to studv special aspects of agricultural science, and thereafter are taken on as officers of the Department.” Demand for Agricultural Students. Dr. Marsden took the opportunity to inquire into the question of agricultural colleges, and found that there was a unanimous and emphatic opinion that education in agricultural matters must start at the top, and be the verv best obtainable. It was essential that men should be trained in the country. The very best training was needed, and there would be full use for every man adequately trained. At Hawkesbury College, in New South Wales, he was pleased to find five Maoris from the Te Aute College, in HaWke’s Bav. The whole' output of students of the facilities of agriculture at Melbourne and Sydney universities was required, and in fact, more than the output was needed bv the local departments of agriculture and other agricultural enterprises. The directors of agriculture, both in Victoria and New South Wales were most emphatic about this. Pulping of Flax and Wood. The work done in connection with forestry impressed Dr. Marsden, the chemical and mechanical wood pulping experiments being very suggestive as to possibilities in New Zealand. The pulp made from some New Zealand flax had been described by tile head of the Commonwealth Research Laboratory as the best he had ever seen, and further, that when used with the fibre of pinus insignis or other short fibre would make the very best paper. Among the interesting features .of industrial research noted by the doctor on his visit was that done in the direction of the eradication of prickly pear, one of Australia’s greatest pests. The problem had been practically solved by means of parasites So keen were the farmers that they were stealing the bugs from each other until the supply was sufficient for the demand. Banana disease in Queensland had been successfully tackled by the council. Experiments in wheat-growing, to give a bigger yield, and also to eradicate rust, were also investigated by Dr. Marsden during his visit, as were also numerous other phases of industrial and scientific research.

The bricquetting of brown coal at Yallourne was likely to satisfy a great public demand, and bricquettes were selling readily, even at £2 10s. per ton. It was'likely to be a great economic saving in the near future, as the Remand increased. Dr. Marsden will make a full report of his investigation to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and when the board next meets, on December 15, an outline of the policy to be adopted will be drawn up.