MAKING A START

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 138, 15 June 1927, Page 15

MAKING A START

HOW SCIENCE MAY HELP

VALUE OF HEATH REPORT

ITS FAR-REACHING EFFECTS

With the possible exception of the vexed question of control—of which it is intended to say nothing in the present issue — no subject \luts excited such widespread discussion amongst farmers in recent years •as that of agricultural education and scientific research in relation' to a- the primary industries of the Dominion. To say that the primary in- , austries are the backbone of the Dominion is merely to repeat some- ... thing which is accepted by all sections of the community, but it is a surprising fact that' New Zealand has lagged sadly behind other countries in any endeavour, to place those vital industries on a sounder and surer foundation. The people of New Zealand, however, are beginning to discover—if, in the main, they, have not already discovered —the error of their ways, and the important part that science may flay isreceivinggeneral'recognition. That the scientist and the farmer may, with profit, Walk hand in hand has been recognised by the Government, and already the Department of Scientific and IndustrialResearch, set up during the last session of Parliament, has accomplished much ivhich: should be of lasting and increasing benefit to „ the Dominion as a whole. ■■-„

/■'■"■*'■ When, at thr, beginning of 1926, the Government invited Sir Frank - Heath, head of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in England, to pay a brief visit to New Zealand it made an important forward move, a move which, promises to have.far-reaching results. Prior to Sir Frank Heath's arrival in this country, various aspects of agricultural education and research had been considered by Commissions and specr iaj committees of inquiry, but although much valuable data was collected and made available for publication, very little real progress re-, suited. With the arrival of Sir Frank Heath, however, and with the submission of his report to the Government and to Parliament, a change came over the scene, and definite Action took the place of indefinite yrords. During the time which he spent in New Zealand, Sir Frank Heath, a close observer and the possessor of a keen, analytical mind, made a thorough study of prevailing conditions. Not orily did he take advantage of every opportunity of personally meeting primary and secondary producers, but he saw at first-hand as much of the country as Was possible in the comparatively short time at his disposal. He was nothing if not thorough, and as a result he was able to present to the Government one of the most valuable reports ever laid on the table of jthe House. LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE. That the country as a whole was anxious to make use of science as an aid in its business— whether primary or secondary—was made evident to Sir Frank Heath, and in introducing his very valuable report he made mention of this. I have (he said) been astonished at the interest in scientific work shown by all classes of the commuhity with which I have come in contact in the cities, the towni ships, and in the country, the keenness with which they feel the need for scientific help, and the sincerity of their desire to. help forward any promising movement in every possible way. The farmers, no less keen than the manufacturers, and particularly the younger men, recognise their ignorance of many things essential to their success, and their realisation of problems requiring scientific aid is a -: hopeful augury for a well-consid-ered scheme. Without exception I found them willing and even enthusiastic when it was suggested that they should help themselves by contributing funds for the work and by actively helping it forward with their time and brains. To Sir Frank Heath the desire of the.farmers for assistance was not a desire to cast a portion of their responsibilities on the shoulders of a paternal Government. It was a call, rather, for leadership. Said Sir Frank: "There is undoubtedly an instinctive feeling, which I believe to be sound, that the problem of industry must be solved by the industries themselves. But they want help and guidance." It was this realisation of the need for guidance that actuated the eminent British scientist in making his recommendations. HEATH REPORT REVIEWED. As the present special number is intended for the man on the land, and particularly the man who is farming in the Manawatu district, it might be well at this stage to give a brief summary of the conclusions arrived at by Sir Frank Heath in regard to primary industries generally., and dairying in particular. His conclusions are of importance,

for it was on them that the legislation of last session was based. Sir Frank found a widespread appreciation of the importance of science systematically applied to the primary industries, and that manufacturers were concerned'to show that they agreed in the prior claims of these industries. Naturally, a country's purchasing power, and, in consequence, the prosperity, of the secondary industries, depend upon a favourable balance of external trade, a balance that can be provided only by the primary industries. In times of falling prices, the only way to maintain a satisfactory trade balance is to increase productivity. .

INCREASING PRODUCTION. How can production be increased? is an easy maUer for the politician

to tell the farmers that they must increase their output. No doubt, the sentiment is an excellent one, but the farmer, being the man who is expected to carry out the job, is likely to Dr. B. Marsden. ask a few ques-

tions. "We want to increase, production," one fanner might say. "It is in our interests to do so, but at present we are making the most of our land that we possibly can. Just tell us how we may do more, and we will do it." This, according to Sir Frank Heath, is the point at which ~ science must step in and play its part; But even with science helping, progress must be slow; there is no short cut to the millenium, but the path is paved with hard work and constant effort. This point was made plain by Sir Frank is his report. "The problems and difficulties with which a young country is faced," he said, "are so numerous; the cost, both in time and money, of an adequate attack upon them so meterial; the supply of competent scientific workers so difficult to come by, that a wise policy must perforce establish an order of'priority in the subject selected for investigation. AH the problems may be important, and even urgent, but in scientific work nothing is more wasteful and more likely to impair public confidence in its value than die attempt to cover a wider field than, the available men and money can compass efficiently. On the other hand, one problem successfully solved often leads systematically to the solving of others, and it always reacts on others by drawing attention to the methods which have made for success. It is better to postpone or abandon an investigation than to attempt it in conditions that place a number of Joose ends unexplored though recognised as vital to a solution. As in military affairs, the width of the attack must be determined by the strength of the forces at disposal.

• . .. ■ Effective work in science is only possible when there is some assurance that plans can be carried through to the end within the limits once laid down. ... / have no doubt that the primary industries and those which directly serve their needs must be given the first place. LACK OF TRAINED MEN. It was evident to Sir Frank Heath that the most serious difficulty in any plan for a systematic organisation of effort on behalf of the primary industries was a shortage of well-trained and competent workers, and in this connection he referred to the absence of any institution of University rank devoted to the training of leaders in the primary industries and to research. Even in institutions already established—and here Sir Frank instanced Lincoln College and the Ruakura Instruction

Farm-—science received something less than its due attention.

Recommendations made by Sir Frank Heath in regard to the establishment of an Institute of Dairying were of outstanding importance, and as it is to this recommendation that it is proposed to give almost immediate effect, Sir Frank's remarks on the subject might be quoted at some length. The first and most urgent need, in my opinion, is the establishment of an Institute of Dairying (said Sir Frank). The dairy industry is the one branch of agriculture which shows marked expansion of production in recent years. Indeed, there has actually been a falling-off in the production of wheat, wool, and meat. Yet less scientific work has been done for the dairy industry than for any branch of agriculture, not excluding fruit or forestry. In the by-products of the industry—casein (and its derivative products), smrar of milk, and lactose—the little work done has been by private effort. Tt is not suggested that expensive or elaborate buildings should be provided in the first instance. To begin with, room could probably be found for the work in the college laboratories. Nor should a large special staff be required . at first. The professor would naturally be the head of the institute, and a carefully selected assistant or two for research, assisted and supplemented as time goes on by the best graduates of the college, would probably meet the needs of the first few years. THE WALLACEVILLE PROPOSAL Matters, of detailed organisation were dealt with by Sir Frank Heath, who then went on to give his opinion of a proposal by the Department of Agriculture that a dairy research institute should be established at Wallaceville. Sir Frank's opinion on this point is again of general interest. He said: "I hope that what I have said may lead to a reconsideration of this plan in the interests of economy, and may I venture to add, efficiency; for, apart from the difficulties inherent in a comprehensive plan of investigation in any field by an administrative De-

partment, of State,; I. ;am, inclined- to think that Wallacevilie is flat .^suitable site for such an'institution?:- 1'

A dairy institute should be centred in a district engaged in the butter and cheese industry if it is to establish that intimate contact with the industry and its need that the circumstances demand and an institution which had to send to Wellington for supplies of milk from other than official herds would find it physically impossible to attack many of the problems before it. "There; is another point in this connection of some importance. It is essential for the success of a research Institution, especially in a new country, that the staff should be in close touch with the people affected by its work. . . '.". The staff- of the institute should spend part of their time regularly in the field explaining to the farmers, factory managers, and field officers what they are aiming at and what they have achieved. Short lectures, demonstrations, and ten-minute talks on the wireless should all be pressed into their service, as well as visits to the laboratories by those who should be interested in the work. It is obvious that the nearer the institute is to a dairying, area the easier it will be to do all this with the minimum loss of time to those concerned." . GOVERNMENT ACTION. The value of the Heath report was at once fully realised by the Government. As has been stated above, the report was submitted to the Government in March, and during the session of Parliament which commenced in the following June steps were taken to give effect to the recommendations contained therein. In the preceding month ihe Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates), in releasing the Heath report for publication, made a comprehensive statement clearly setting out the intentions of the Government. One extract at least from this statement is worthy of quotation in the present article. A long-sighted policy is the precedent and first essential to success (said the Prime Minister). I propose, therefore, that the new Department (of Scientific and Industrial. Research) will under-

take as its first duty a careful review of the research work at present being carried out in the Universities and other research laboratories. It is essential for future progress that steps be taken to promote a full and regular interchange of information between the various reseach institutes on the methods and results of their experimental work; it will lead to concentration and economy of effort, and also of expenditure. The corner-stone of the whole structure of the new organisation is research—organised research; and I am sure the Government will have the wholehearted support of the community in hoping that this stone will be well and truly laid. WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE.

'"The Government 'is concerned with the well-being of the people," Mr. Coateswent on to say, "and the position immediately facing us is to ensure that they should be enabled not only to exist but to prosper. Our well-being is largely dependent on the export and satisfactory disposal of our primary products. The secondary industries must not be overlooked; their operations are, however, largely confined to our internal .market. Our efforts must, in the main, be directed to increasing the quantity and improving the quality of our primary products. The problem, however, will not be near solution until producers generally recognise scientific research as essentially part and parcel of their organisation.

"There is one particular matter to which special attention is drawn by Sir Frank Heath—the erection of the new Agricultural College. The details in connection with the establishment, of the. college are practically finished, and in connection with the establishment of the college the question arises as to the relation of the college to research. I intend to refer at present to one particular phase only—that of the dairy industry. The Government fully realises that, while marked progress has been niade in dairying on the instructional side, less has been attempted on the scientific side than in the case of other industries. The Government has had under consideration the constitution of a special branch of the Department of Agriculture dealing solely with problems

affecting the dairy industry. The proposal under consideration was to establish a special laboratory and staff at Wallaceville, where- the research m dairying would be carried out in conjunction with the other activities of the Department. lam, however, convinced that the proposal l ,r, ank that lhis special work should be attached to the central Agricultural College is the correct one, and immediate steps will be taken to give full effect to his recommendation. MACHINERY ESTABLISHED This very frank statement of the Government's intentions must have proved a source of gratification to tanners generally, and that gratification became greater, no doubt, when legislative action followed. The passing of the Scientific and Industrial Research Act, 1926, provided the necessary machinery for putting the proposals into effect, and already the wheels of the machine are moving to some purpose. Under the Act a council of five was appointed, and their functions and. duties were set out in the Act as follows :— (a) To consider and report to the Minister upon scientific aspects of all proposals made to the Department for the encouragement and organisation of scientific and industrial research. (b) To subject annually to the Minister a programme of work, together with estimates of the cost, for each of the scientific institutions and services under the control of the Department. (c) To make recommendations as to the expenditure of money by the Department in grants for the purpose of scientific research. (d) To advise the Government on the scientific aspects of any proposals made by another Department of State and referred to the council for its consideration and recommendations. . Power was also given to the council to set up committees to deal with any special problems which it might be called upon to solve. Provision was also made for the appointment of a permanent secretary of the new Department, and this appointment was given to Dr. E. Marsden, formerly Assistant Director of Education. ,

Or. C. J. Eealces