NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 154, 30 June 1926, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

IN INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

SIR FRANK HEATH'S SUGGESTIONS. The co-operation of New Zealand with other parts of the world in scientific and industrial research was mentioned at this morning's meeting of the Board of Science and Art, when Sir Frank Heath's report was under consideration. The portion of tho report referred to reads as follows: —"If the encouragement of scientific research and the organisation of industrial research is to become a declared function of the Government as recommended in the report, it appears "to me to bo of great importance that the men of science in the Dominion should bo encouraged to organise themselves on a completely unofficial basis. Such an unofficial body of tho best scientific opinion, if fully representative of all branches of science (including medicine and engineering), would be a i^ost valuable support to the Government in influencing public opinion and by offering friendly criticism and suggestions to the Government on its official policy." The best of Departments, Sir Frank Health points out, is the healthier and better for instructed outside criticism.

The New Zealand Institute, it was stated, had offered tho Prime Minister its assistance in bringing such a body into being, provided that the financial sido could be satisfactorily arranged. Such a body, when elected by the leading representatives in each field of work, would become the National Ecsearch Council for New Zealand, such aa obtains in other English-speaking countries. The Dominion would then be able to take its rightful part in world conferences on scientific and" industrial subjects, such an organisation being able to affiliate with the International Research Council.