"A LOT TO LEARN"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 136, 6 December 1926, Page 10

"A LOT TO LEARN"

RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA

DR. MARSDEN'S VISIT

IDEAS FOR NEW ZEALAND,

Having spent several weeks in Australia, Dr. E. Marsden, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, returned to Wellington to-day. Tho object of his visit to the Commonwealth was to obtain first-hand knowledge of the working of the Australian Research Council. Meeting with courtesy on every side, he was granted every facility in the carrying out of his investigations, and was enabled to attend a three days' session of the council. "We have a lot to learn from Australia," said Dr. Marsden to-day; "they havo thoroughly keen and alert minds on the job, and are getting right down to tin tacks. They have made good, and receive great support and encouragement on all sides. Of a Government grant of £100,000, vested'in the name of the executive, 80 per cent, of the interest is expended in the training of research students, and an expenditure of £250,000 during each of four years has been authorised in order to carry on research work which will benefit primary and secondary industries." VERY OPTIMISTIC. Dr. Marsden is very optimistic about the results of his visit. Inter-com-munication between the two Departments will result in co-operation and avoid any overlapping of effort along | fundamental lines, and when the Department in New Zealand has had time to become thoroughly established it, too, will make good and be able to confer untold blessings upon the industries of the'country. One of the difficulties that tho Australian Council have to contend with is tho finding of suitable men for the work. The supply is insufficient. Posts are advertised carrying salaries of £1200 a year, but men really trained for the work cannot be obtained. To overcome this difficulty in Victoria the Government makes provision for the thorough training of suitable boys. All their scholastic expenses are paid, and when they are fully trained as research workers posts are guaranteed them. The St"^r °few South Wales adopts a shuiuir policy, and there is quite a stampede, as Dr. Marsden jiuts it, to get hold of these trained workers. PESTS ERADICATED. Amongst the interesting features of industrial research noted by Dr. Marsden on his visit, was that-done in the direction of the eradication of prickly pear, one of. Australia's greatest pests. "The problem," said Dr. Marsden, "is practically solved by the means of parasites. So keen aro tho farmers that they are stealing the bugs from each other until the supply is sufficient for the demand." Banana disease in Queensland is another thing which the council has successfully tackled. 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 (/ industrial and scientific research. USE _OR NEW ZEALAND FLAX. Ho was much interested in the work done in connection with forestry. The chemical and mechanical wood pulping experiments were very suggestive a.s to possibilities in New Zealand, and the pulp mado from some New Zealand flax he describes as the best' that he has ever seen. By using the mechanical method tho whiteness is maintained, and, when mixed with othor fibres, an excellent p.'/er results.' This method put into practical operation in New Zealand would mean a great deal to the flax industry and to the country's prosperity in general. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. The question of an agricultural collego naturally was inquired into, and Dr. Marsden found opinion unanimous and emphatic that education in agricultural matters must start at the top and be the very best obtainable. Men trained in the country were essential. "At present farmers were standing gaping for information, and they were' getting it from the mouths of babes and sucklings." The very best training was needed, and there would be: f u u use for every man adequately trained At Hawkesbury College, in New South' Wales, Dr. Marsden was pleased to find fivo Maoris from To Auto (Hawkes Bay). Dr. Marsden will be making a full' report of his investigations to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and when the board next meets on 15th December an outline of the policy to be adopted' will be drawn up.