SCIENCE IN THE PACIFIC.

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1923, Page 14

SCIENCE IN THE PACIFIC.

BUREAU-.-AT- MANILA.

j: Manila),, the capital of the ..Philippines, there is an institution. which, it is claimed, is unique in the world. It is the Bureau:of Science, and Dr. Elmer ID. Merrill, the director, who arrived in Sydney recently, gave to a "Sydney Morning Herald" representative some interesting details concerning it. The bureau, he said, covered all branches of science, and an endeavour was made to co-ordinate the work in every particular. All_ scientific matters, no matter what their ns.ture, \ were referred to the. [ bureau, which was required by law to undertake scientific, investigation. The bureau manufactured serum and vaccine, and studied zoology, geology, biology, . and numerous other sciences. The bureau was being developed -along the lines of "a research institution, yet did routine work as well. Besides undertaking Government work it carried out 'scientific research for commercial purposes. For its services to commerce it charged fees, and the aim was to make the institution self-isupport ing. • "To that end we have already achieved something," said Dr. Men-ill, "for last year our_ revenue was 54 per cent, of our total e>:p'enses. This year it will probably be 60 per cent.'' The technical work of the institution was in the hands of Americans and natives, and in many directions the latter, after receiving education , in* American ■ universities, showed particular aptitude in certain directions. ■