RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 3

RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION

THE HEATH REPORT A HEW DEPARTMENT WILL COST £7,000 ANNUALLY. [Per United Press Assocut.vw.] WELLINGTON, July 9. In tlio House of Ecprescntatives the Premier moved that the report of Sir Frank Heath on scientific research be referred to the Government for consideration. After references to the proposed Central College of Agriculture (reported elsewhere), Mr Coates said that all were agreed that increased production was necessary, and research could help this by finding out what ought to be done to fortify our soils, the productive qualities of which were diminishing with time and use. For this the best brains were necessary to bring in the new era. It would bo tho duty "t the officers to keep in touch with scientific thought in all parts of the world, and au interchange of officers would also bo necessary, it might bo necessary to do some of the research in other parts of the Empire. Ho quoted from his published comments on Bir Frank Heath's report as to what tho research departments should bo. The now department would ho governed by a council of experts outside the Government service. This new department would not tio its work for nothing, hut industries requiring roosareh to ho done for them would pay for it, and research work would be dono lor those who wanted it. This would obviate duplication of staffs. Many departments now had been doing the same class ot work. What Canada, tho United States, and Great Britain had spent on scientific research was quoted. For this the expenditure was being supplied by the secondary industries. He estimated that tho department, in New Zealand would cost £7,000 annually. 'I lie first essentia! was a good man to place at the head of the department. Ho need not necessarily ho a scientific man, hut one blessed with tho gift of organisation. ' ~ ,

Tho Leader of file Opposition said it was a pity that when Sir Frank Heath was hero he did not consult with (ho representatives of organised industries, a.s well ns tho representatives of the primary industries. Ho did not agree ■with Sir Frank Heath’s suggestion that tho Prime Minister should bo at tho .head of tho new department, as he had more than enough to do now. Much would depend on tho amount of money made available, and those engaged in tho department should have some voice in its management. Ho valued most highly tho proposal to set up a scientific library containing works relating to our industries. Flo deprecated setting up all kinds of industries which were not suited to New Zealand. Our textile industry, on tho contrary, was one that should ho developed right up to tho fullness of its possibility within New Zealand. The Hoot industry was another which should ho encouraged by scientific help, and generally wo .should concentrate on those industries most suitable to tho dominion. There was a great future in the by-products of our industries, especially in connection with the coal industry, which should bo made n State industry and not left to private i ownership. There were several by-pro-duct works in connect ion with Glasgow gasworks, and from these the Glasgow City Council was cclaring £150,000 annually. Other cities had been equally 'successful. Ho hopod tho hoard to bo set up ■would include the teaching oi tho .science of finance and credit in coni neetion with industries._ There ■was I wide scope for investigations in connection with our timber and wheat problems. Those industries must be organised. So far as wheat was concerned, wo were all right so long as we could get our wheat supplies from Australia; but a drought thero might place us in a serious position. Me .should grow sufficient wheat for our own requin?incuts. Generally, ho regarded the Heath report as a most valuable one, and the fact that tho Primo Minister had moved that it bo referred to the Government for consideration was el ide nee that it proposed to act on it. Hi tho essentials his party would assist tho Government to give effect to it. Tho Hon. I). Dnddo contender! that, apart from the Agricultural College, there should be _ sevcral_ independent scientific institutions. Lincoln College could do all that was requisite for the southern districts, the Cawthron lnstitute could do the work for Nelson, Marlborough, and the M eat Coast, and there should ho similar distribution of educational institutions in the North Island, ’faking a broad view of the whole subject, be saw no reason how anyone could object to an extension of agricultural education, and he believed tho House was prepared to go to any reasonable extent to achieve that end. Mr W. S. Glenn said the period of virgin soil in New Zealand had passed, and the deficiency would have to be made up by resort to scientific research and increased agricultural education. This justified the rlamnr for an agricultural college, which should he pin rod, not on rich land, but on medium class land. Ho complained of the price of manures, which, ho said, were making cheap production impossible, and yet the Minister of Agriculture was doing nothing about it. Mr J. A. Loo (Auckland Last) argued that one of the most important phases of the subject was the establishment of research scholarships. There also should be some means of co-ord-inating and classifying tho results of tlio scientific experiments which were being made in Jfow Zealand, so that they”might be available to those interested. , . Tho Hon. 0. J. Hawkon (Minister of Agriculture) stated that Sir Frank Floath had been much struck by the possibilities in New Zealand for forest growth. What was preventing further development was money, which was more urgently needed for public works. Five million acres of land in New /ealand were suitable for reafforestation. Sir Frank Heath’s report regarded research work in tho primary industry as of first importance. No doubt the Agricultural College would centralise the research work, though there would be outside stations as well. The college should bo in a good central position. We spent £150,000 yearly on university education, but nobody objected, and when tho primary industries wore considered we should spend enougu monev to educate those who were engaged in them. , . M.r E. A. Ransom said tho scientific treatment of our herds and pastures would result in an increase of 50 per I cent, in production, which would go a long way towards meeting the increased charges on the public debt. Mr H. G. Dickie (Fatea) said he did not favor the setting up of a central laboratory in the dominion. He doubted ‘whether we were justified in ! entering upon the huge expenditure re- : quired to establish agricultural colleges ; at a time when economy was so mi P6 Mr IT H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) said the Government had a record in the matter of rejecting commissions’ reports, and ho doubted whether it would give effect to much of this report, which was largely compiled from information gathered from Government officials. Before a second agricultural college was established, Lincoln College should bo assisted and brought up to date. _ The Prime Jilin is ter, in reply, said no was pleased to find the general tenor of the speeches was in favor of the report and in approval of _ the Government’s attitude towards it. Ho was inlij convinoed that the- Prime MunstoJt

should ho at the head of the department, us lie thought his general control of the departments pul hiui in the host position to supervise it. The council of experts would ho New Zealanders, and he was confident they could pet a New Zealander to act as its permanent head. There were at present four research scholarships awarded. These were worth about £IOO each. This number, lie thou'dit, would ho doubled. So far as the fuel problem was concerned, they had sent quantities of coal to Great Britain to see whether some means could he discovered by winch no could use our lignite coals on our railways, as the Government was most anxious to do so. Scientific libraries would he established, and extensions of the Meteorological Department were contemplated. , Mr Coates then moved that Sir Frank Heath’s report he _ referred to the Government for consideration, nlucix vas agreed to on the voices.