The Hawera Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1924. THE MARCH OF SCIENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 December 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1924. THE MARCH OF SCIENCE.

Delivered every evening by 3 o’cloet fn Hawera Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawu, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatunj, Opunake, Otalceho, Manutahi, Alton, Ifurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakainara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

It has been said that if a citizen of ancient Rome had come back to earth at the time when the Battle of Waterloo was fought, he would have soon overcome his initial amazement, for progress had been comparatively small up till that time. But if one of the ancients came to earth now, unless he landed in one of the few remote and uncivilised parts of the globe, it would take him a long time to get used to things as lie. would find them. Trains thundering over the land, motors flitting hither and thither, aeroplanes and airships flying over hundreds of miles of land and sea, mighty steamships ploughing through the oceans, electric tramcars running at frequent intervals in practically every city, huge factories manufacturing to meet the world’s needs, giant machines harnessed to the rivers to provide power for man’s use —these developments of modern science would probably first arrest his attention and lie would be dumbfounded. But when he had become accustomed to these things, further perplexities and wonders would await him —cable, telegraph, telephone, aud wireless machines’ for communication over long distances; astronomical, bacteriological, surgical, and chemical instruments and appliances; printing and typesetting machines; and so on. One cannot imagine the state of mind of such a man landing on earth among the innumerable wonders which science in her various sections has produced. But the majority of people living on the earth to-day take but little notice of the remarkable developments of science and probably forget that day after day, with the greatest patience and minds ever alert, scientists are working hard in laboratories, seeking to find more of the- hidden powers* of Nature and to make her disclose her secrets. Neither the layman nor the scientist knows what scientific research is. going to discover next. True, many a long and difficult investigation has 'ended in failure to gain any definite immediate result, but, ev.en when failures have occurred, the knowledge gained has often paved the way to discovery later. We cannot understand why there has been so great ’ a tendency on the part of the people and Government of New Zealand to stint scientists and not give them much encouragement financially in scientific research. Many New Zealanders have contributed to the world’s scientific knowledge aud discovery, and Sir Ernest Rutherford, regarded as the greatest scientist alive, is a New Zealander. One could name other New Zealanders whose work in the world of science is well known, and only recently our wireless amateurs have established records in long distance communication, which have earned high praise throughout the world. With our primary producing industries still in a comparatively youug state there is a great field for research. and we should like to see much more encouragement given to our scientific students in this direction. To maintain the leading position on the world’s markets it is essential to keep our produce up to the highest grade. Science will help very much in that. With haul still at high prices it is necessary, to increase production wherever possible, and science can again assist greatly. There is no lack of opportunity for the application of science to industry in New Zealand, and we believe that leading men in the industries and the Government are now realising that provision must be made so that in future the producers shall not be handicapped through not having available the most up-to-date scientific knowledge and methods.