A FORWARD MOVE

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 28, 1 February 1917, Page 3

A FORWARD MOVE

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

AND INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY.

The announcement that an Industrial Efficiency Board has been appointed was made by the Acting-l'rime Minister (Hon. J. Allen) to a deputation from the New Zealand Institute' yesterday evening. The deputation put before the Minister the idea, already expressed in its annual report, that much greater encouragement should be given to scientific research, for the development and assistance of industry, and the institute offered the Government . any possible help it could render in that direction.

The Hon. J. Allen, in replying said he had the very fullest sympathy with the objects of the deputation. Cabinet had already had the matter under consideration, and he had very good reason to believe that some definite action would be taken in a very short time. He was not going to discuss with the deputation the question of science, or applied science; he had sufficient knowledge of the subject to know that pure science could not be ignored, but must be encouraged, and he also knew that, under conditions that were about to arise, we.had to make use of science in the development of our industries. Something had been done in New Zealand in the past, but he agreed with the deputation that our efforts had not been properly co-ordinated, and that we had not produced the results which might have been brought about if care and attention had. been paid to the subject. He was, however, pleased to be able to tell them that Cabinet had agreed to some proposals he bad put before them in regard to industrial efSciency. Though Cabinet had not accepted the whole of his proposals, it had sanctioned the setting up of an Industrial Efficiency Board of four gentlemen, who had been appointed, and would meet here on .Friday nest. They were business men, selected for their business capacity. They were asked to give their services to the State free of cost, and they had done so. He did not propose to mention their names then. He assured the deputation that they were capable, active-minded business men, who had made a success. of their own businesses. The proposals submitted to Cabinet had been sent to those gentlemeiij and they would discuss them on .Friday Cabinet did not say whether the proposals were'sound or nnsuund. The board would be asked „to revise them, and their scheme would go before Cabinet. The proposals included the setting up of a hoard of scientific men to advise the Government on scientific subjects, as suggested' by the deputation. The question of the absorption of returned soldiers into new industries would also be considered. He had been impressed with the Australian proposal for setting up a Board of Scientific and Industrial Research. That also would be snbmitted to the New Zealand Board. He could not say exactly what might be done, but he could assure them that Cabinet was generally in favour of the proposal. The deputation had offered assistance, and he would ask them for assistance when the board was set up. He asked the deputation to await developments during the next few weeks. In fact, he hoped to bs able to submit proposals to Cabinet within the next few days. If Cabinet agreed, the machinery would be set up and the intention comprised in his scheme would be carried out. They would be very grateful for any assistance the institute could render.