SIR GEORGE KNIBBS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 74, 1 April 1929, Page 9

SIR GEORGE KNIBBS

A GREAT AUSTRALIAN

L'niletl Tress Association—B.v Electric Tele- ' graph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, 31st March. Sir George Knibbs, formerly Com nionwealth Statistician, aged 71. is deed.

Sir George Knibbs, who was born in .Sydney, was Common wealth Statistician from 1906 to 1921, and Director of the Institute of Science and Industry from 1921 to 192(5.- Ho served on several Royal Commissions, and tlio "Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of-Australia" was issued under his direction.

Writing in tho Melbourne "Argus" some' years ago, R.L.C. says of Sir George Knibbs: "Thus it is that lie has contrived to render signal distinction to his country as a scientist, a statistician, an educationist, an engineer, and surveyor, and an astronomer. Tew men have represented the Commonwealth at more congresses upon more subjects in more parta of tho world. He has undertaken three great tours in. the service of Australia, and tlio last one, in 1919-20, found him in a new role, fighting the battle against double income tax with tho British Treasury.

"Sir George is one of Australia's greatest publicists, and this not only by reason of his contact with famous men of science throughout the- Englishspeaking world and in nearly every country of Europe, but also through his 'Year Book,' that remarkable compilation to which 'The Times' paid tribute a. year or two ago as 'the most wonderful book of its kind in the world.' 'Tlio Year Book,' it declared, 'is the creation of a genius, and there is no other publication in the Empire to compare with it.' Every travelled Australian knows what an infallible medium the 'Year Book' has proved for imparting to thoughtful men and women throughout the Empire, Europe, and America an accurate and authoritative knowledge of the real Australia. Sir Gcorgo Knibbs's economic data have boon indispensable to the Commonwealth for the passing of wise legislation, which must ever bo based upon the facts of life; but no less to be prized, one ventures to think, is the influence which he has exerted in giving to his country that well-directed publicity among other nations which is among her most clamant needs."