VISITING SCIENTISTS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 9, 11 January 1923, Page 8

VISITING SCIENTISTS

FUNCTION AT TOWN HALL

Delegates attending the annual conference of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science were welcomed to Wellington at a civic reception held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall at midday to-day. The Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) presided, and associated with him on the platform were Sir Francis Bell, Sir Baldwyn. Spencer, Mr. G. H. Knibbs (president of the conference), Hon. W. Downio Stewart (Minister of Internal Affairs), several members of the City Council, and leading scientists. The Mayor said that it wasihis privilege to extend a hearty welcome to the visitors to New Zealand and to Wellington. The delegates were attending the third congress in New Zealand, the last gathering having taken place here twenty years ago. Great changes had occurred since then. This was a unique occasion, and they were honoured to have the visitors with them. As laymen, they did not fully appreciate the value; of the work of scientific men, who had done much for the progress of civilisation. The Mayor instanced the many inventions of recent years, and said scientific men and women, in addition, had done much in combating diseases. In his judgment, the scientific man and woman bridged the gulf between barbarism and civilisation. In the commercial world, too, there was room'for the scientists, who could do much in solving difficulties. They did not sufficiently value science as applied to the industrial world. The association, said the Mayor, had done much in educating the public in questions of science. The real result of their work as scientists lay in t:he ultimate benefit to the human family, and he believed that scientists as a whole were working to that end. (Applause.) Mercenary considerations, he felt sure,. had no place in the average .scientist's mind. He hoped that the visitors would be able to remain long enough in the Dominion to see some of the beauty spots of the country. The scientific men and women of the Dominion would help them all they could, and he felt sure that the members of the general public would do likewise. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Minister of Internal Affairs) bespoke a, he arty welcome on behalf of the Government, and read a message from the GovernorGeneral expressing his regret at being ■unable to be present on account of previous engagements. Mr. Stewart said he was supposed to be the guardian angel of the scientists during their visit to the Dominion. The Government recognised the disadvantage under which scientists were working, especialy at the present time of financial depression. The scientists of the Dominion, however, had always readily recognised the difficulties the Government was labouring under, and hud subordinated their claims to assistance to those of greater urgency. There wore many scientific subjects in New Zealand, that the visitors would find worthy of study, and the New Zealand scientists would find a good deal of interest in the opinion of the Australian visitors. The earthquakes in the Dominion, he suggested, might be of considerable interest to the Auatralianscientists. It was the desire of New Zealanders to return the hospitality that was always accorded to visitors to the Commonwealth, and he hoped the Australians would thoroughly enjoy their sojourn in the Dominion. Councillor L, M'Kenzie expressed a. welcome on behalf of the City Council and of all the other local bodies of New Zealand. He said he fully realised the benefits of science to mankind, and referred in passing to the Wellington municipal milk control system, the only one of its kind in the world, which, it was expected, would be of great value to the health of the people of the city. He esteemed it the greatest honour of his life to be privileged to speak at such a gathering of scientific cxparts. In conclusion he referred to the value of science to commerce. Sir Baldwyn Spencer, responding on behalf of the association, expressed thanks for the generous welcome accorded them. They were looking forward witli pleasure to their eta-y and to learning more about the beauties and other interesting features of New Zealand. It was the first occasion, he mentioned, in which a civic reception had been tendered to visiting scientists. Dealing with the objects of the conference, Sir Baldwyn said it was hoped that their deliberations and the interchange of ideas would be of benefit to furture generations. If it had_ not been for the work of British scientists, the Union Jack would not be flying to-day. They had done as much for humanity as the soldiers did in the Great War. After referring to the beauties of the country, he concluded by again thanking the Mayor for the cordial welcome accorded them.