INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

Evening Star, Issue 16994, 17 March 1919, Page 7

INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

A CENSUS OF MANUFACTURE. With the war cow at an end there is every prospect of matters in connection with sciential: and industrial research being prosecuted on very detinile lines. At intervals during the jiast year the New Zealand Institute Scientific and Industrial Research Committee, set up at the request of the National Efficiency Board, has been in communication with the Minister of Internal Affairs concerning a Dominion scheme of scientific and industrial research, and the undertaking! of a census of past research, actual problems of industry awaiting solution, and ol available laboratories and research workers. Last month the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute resolved—“'That the Minister of Internal Affairs be asked whether he can now make further communication on the matter of the census of industries.” The Minister recently replied that the “ Census of Industrial Manufacture ” will be taken for the year ending March 30, 1919, and thereafter uunuuliy. A deputation from the Standing Committee thereupon waited on the Minister, and pointed out that the census of industrial manufacture, taken by the Government Statistician, would be of great value, but did not cm. er the ground contemplated. The Minister stated that he considered that the Board of Science and Art had more statutory power than the No.v Zealand Institute to conduct such an inquiry on scientific and industrial research matters as had been proposed. A report on the above was presented at Monday’s meeting of the Board of Science and Art. Th'a Minister of Internal Affa’rs, who was present, pointed l out that beyond the preparation of an annual census he could at present do nothing further. He was, however, prepared, now that the war was over, and the board was in a position to enter upon a more ambitious stage of the wort, to bring the matter before Cabinet at its next meeting. 0.110 effect of the »». nual census, instead of a five-yearly census will be,‘ the Minister pointed out, a yearly statement in regard to the position of industries which will be. of benefit to the Government, tire employers, and to laborers.