NATIONAL RESEARCH

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1929, Page 8

NATIONAL RESEARCH

PROPOSED COUNCIL

INDEPENDENT OF DEPARTMENT

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") . AUCKLAND, This Day. A proposal to establish a National Research Council in New Zealand, independent of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, was discussed by members of the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute, at the annual meeting.An extensive report on the functions of a National Besearch Council, gathered from what was being done overseas, and prepared by Professor Coleridge Fa-rr and Mr. A. M. Wright, was presented. The report stated that the function of such a council was to act as a body joining the International Union, and to constitute a body independent of State- influence, and one which was capable of expressing an authoritative opinion upon any ' scientific question of all countries, from which the committee had succeeded in obtaining information. Canada, alone, appeared to have a National Beseareh Council, which might be subjected to political considerations, and which, moreover, was not balanced as regards the sciences, nor was it altogether scientific. The question which must be decided was whether it was more desirable to follow the lead of Canada, or to adopt that of England, Australia, and Japan.

The committee took the view that the present council of 'scientific and industrial research was not, as at present constituted, suitable to fulfil the duties of a National Research CouneiJ for New Zealand. The committee, therefore, had examined the constitution of the most obvious other body, the New Zealand Institute, to ascertain what alterations, if any, required to be made to enable it to act in the capacity of a National Research Council. The New Zealand Institute clearly seemed to be the body from which a National Research Council must arise, but in its present form it was less suitable than the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The committee suggested that a body consisting of about 25 members be initiated by the New Zealand Institute, representative of tho various sciences of ten sections. After going into details of constitution the committee added that seeing that one of the objects in view was to set up a body ontirely outside "political influence, it suggested a seat on the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research should bar tho holder from also having a seat on the National Research Council.

Commenting on the report, Mr. Wright said the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research was not outside tho sphere of political influence. He suggested that the body they were proposing should be quite independent of political influence.

Professor Farr said they did not want to criticise in any way the acts or deeds of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Eesearch.

Dr. Cockayne: They are doing excellent work.

It was finally decided that the report of the committee should be forwarded to the various incorporated institutes in the Dominion fpr their consideration. These institutes will be instructed to furnish a report to the New Zealand body on the scheme by v 31st May.