POPULAR SCIENTIST

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10511, 15 February 1928, Page 5

POPULAR SCIENTIST

DEPARTURE OF DR TILL YARD. N. FRUITGROWERS’ TRIBUTE. PRESENTATION OF CHEQUE. ' (Press Association.) NELSON, Feb. 14. At the Cawthron Institute the splendid work which Dr R, J. Tillyard has accomplished in the interests of the fruitgrowers of the Dominion was recognised last evening, when at a meeting’called by the New Zealand Fruit Federation, a cheque was presented to him prior to iiis departure for the Commonwealth of Australia to take up an important appointment at Canberra for the Federal Government. . Mr D. Haining, Nelson, director on the board and chairman of the local advisory board, presided, and there \da s a good attendance .of the general public, especially those engaged in the fruitgrowing industry. Among those also present were the Hon. O. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, Messrs H. At more, M.P., W. J. Moffatt (Mayor of Nelson), and the Deputy Mayor (Cr. R. .Watson). The chairman said the meeting had been called to do honor to one to whom honor was due. The fruitgrowers ot the Dominion appreciated the benefits received from the work of Dr Tillyard, and felt they should give some tangible recognition of it. Mr Afcmore, M.P., who referred to Dr Tillyard as the greatest entomologist in the world, said it was men like him who fought against insects which threatened the food supplies of the world.’ His name would always he associated with the introduction of the aphelions mali, which hart caused a saving of £IO,OOO to orcliardists in the Nelson district. The Hon. O. J. Hawken said it was his most pleasing privilege to make this presentation to their distinguished countryman. It would be discovered soon that he belonged not to Nelson, but to the Empire as a whole. The speaker went on to refer to the great work which lies before those who were doing work along the linos that Dt Tillyard was doing. There was no doubt there would be a controversy as to the wisdom of introducing into the country insects which preyed upon other insects, yet it seemed to him quite necessary that this should be-done. While this was so, the work called for great scientific knowledge, and also for great judgment, and there was a great responsibility in the hands of Dr Tillyard. He congratulated him on the very great care he had taken in what he was doing in this direction. Continuing, the Minister said there was no doubt, that we would look to scientists to protect us in the future from losses arising from insects and various diseases in a way we had never looked in the past. The relations of the Department with Dr Tillyard had been of the most pleasant, and ho congratulated him on being called to take charge of the impoTtant department in Australia. “One of the finest things .in the world.” commented Air tlawkeir, “is that seientists never keep their knowledge to themselves. Jt is a fine thing to know that the scientific world has placed its services for the benefit of all." The Minister was quite sure Dr Tillyard would bo missed personally right through New Zealand. Speaking on behalf of the Government he wanted to thank Dr Tillyard for the great help he had given to the fruitgrowers of the Dominion. It came at a very fortunate time when the industry was something in the nature of “a lame duelf,” and the'assistance given had certainly helped to turn the scale in the growers’ favor, and he believed from that point the orchards began to make progress. Mr Hawken then handed Dr Tillyard an envelope containing a ene'que subscribed to by fruitgrowers throughout the Dominion. “There were no restrictions," laughingly added the Minister, but he thought subscribers would he pleased it Dr Tillyard obtained a microscope that •‘would make a bug look as big as a horse." On rising to reply Dr Tillyard was warmly applauded. Economic entomology, he said, was looming much more largely in England than had been the case in years gone by. When he first came to New Zealand it did not seem the possibilities of biological control had been appreciated anywhere except in America. In 1920. when he went to the Entomological Conference in the Old Country, there were about fifty delegates, and nearly all were against the practice ol biological control. Dr Howard, an American, was an exception and he urged the speaker to go ahead with it, as he was on the right lines. What had been done in the way of putting that into practice they knew now. Referring to the anxious time hp had had when watching, the fust brood of aphelinus mali reared at the Cawthron Institute, Dr Tillyard said Dr Howard had made the original suggestion to him, and therecire they had'rcally to thank the Ami dean scientist "for its introduction. The. point he wished to drive home was that behind this work 'here was a greater work. First of all, theie was the Empire, work, because they had faced the fact U.at it was only by hanging together and trading together that the Empire was going to carry on without serious disruption. The future of the Empire lay with scientists. Jt was going to be part of his duty and his privilege not only to carry oil the worlc on economic lines, but to build up a and train young men to fill ' I'-my pests wchich he felt sure would be open to them. Continuing, Dr Tillyard paul a tribute ;to the members of Die Cawthron Trust Board and the Director, who had always seen his point of view, and had' encouraged him in if. Speaking of experiments with noxious weeds, Dr Tillyard said the Department of Agriculture was ovate right in insisting on greatest btiiqtr. ness being enforced before liberating insects. Nothing hut the most strin-gent-test should be permitted, and an open permit should not be. granted to either himself or his successor until the Council of the Scientific Research Board was thoroughly satisfied that every possible test had been applied, and that the. insects bad come through with flying colors. Speaking to the fruitgrowers, Dr Tillyard said he valued their gift very highly. Inside the envelope vas something very dear to him —the sincere goodwill of all his very good friends. He would perhaps use the gift to obtain a super-microscope, or perhaps some study furniture, and he would he pleased if he could be supplied with a few appropriate words to inscribe on a- silver plate which he would put on the gift.

FAREWELL BY CAWTHRON TRUST BOARD. DR TILLYARD SUMMARISES NOXIOUS WEEDS EIGHT. (Press Association.) NELSON, Feb. 14Dr Tillyard was also farewrefled by members of the Cawthron Trust Board, when ’e'ulogistifi references were made to his work, arid regret expressed at the departure of liimself. Mrs Tillyard and family. • Mr F. G. Gibbs, chairman of the Trust Board, assured Dr Tillyard how highly ' they; appreciated the splendid work " he had done while ; as sociated with the Institute. His boundless enthusiasm and untiring energy had excited despairing admiration of. all who had been brought in ’ contact

with him. His ability and the great success which had attended Ids work had, as a monument, the Fellowship of the Royal Society, and his magnum opus, the splendid work on “Insects of Australia and New Zealand." The trustees were highly pleased that Dr Tillyard had gained these high distinctions while associated with the Institute. The Institute, went on the chairman, had been very fortunate in the personnel of its stajff, and Dr> Tillyard in connection with it had shed considerable lustre on the Institute, but this very high attainment had had One very unfortunate result, the moving on to a wider and more honorable field of labor, and he lelt they could confidently, hope to hear of him canning fresh. laurels on the other side of the Tasman Sea. In the course of his reply Dr Tillyard said he felt deep regret at Leaving the city where, for the first time in his life, he had found good physical health. The environment between himself and liis fellow workers was as near perfection as one could find. There was such sympathy, sufah appreciation, and such generosity in handling both large and smaLl questions, and in this he included the trustees. Such success as lie had achieved had been due to this and not to himself. His wife had also been a great factor in any success lie had attained, and he was most grateful to those speakers who had referred to her so kindly.

As to the fight against noxious weeds, continued Dr Tillyard, lie honestly believed that success with the eradication of blackberries would come later. With regard to gorse and ragwort, experiments were getting advanced, but there were still some difficulties to overcome. Duly in the last few days unexpected dßficulties concerning the ragwort min a had come, but be thought they would bo cleared up very shortly. Many tilings which he had attempted in Die eight years he had been here, bad not been carried through with success. Experiments with earwigs and oak scale were not vet a success, Fireblight had been a partial success, and he thought Nelson was the only place at the present time sale from the disease, because it it came the provisions ol the Act could be enforced. It was inevitable thnt kii ures should occur. He thought the light against the earwig should he successful within the next two oi three years. Although he was going away leaving a number of problems not'solved, yet they would be easier of solving because of the hard labor bis assistants and himself had pnf in. The future was very bright ior the eradication of noxious weeds. Finally, Dr Tillvnrd expressed his personal thanks to all. No research man had ever been more generously treated than he bad by the Board oi Directors and the general staff in collaboration with him. Throe cheers were then given ior Dr and Mrs Tillyard, and the proceedings terminated.