SCIENTIFIC TOPICS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 18 January 1935, Page 7

SCIENTIFIC TOPICS

Amazing Variety Discussed at Melbourne Congress

CRITICISM OF POLITICIANS STANDARD OF EDUCATION (United Preen Assoctatlon--By E!ecmo Telegraph Oopvriflbt.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 17. Scientific topics of an amazing variety from oceanography to medicine and from livestock diseases to the age and educational qualifications of New Zealand politicians, were discussed by various sections of the Science Congress when they settled down to business to-day. Thousands of delegates scattered about in all departments of the university attended the sections interesting each.

Dr. Ray Gardner, Dunedin, delivered the presidential address to the pharmaceutical section. He said much remained to be done from the chemical side of medicines. Pure substances of great value continued to be isolated from vegetable drugs to take the place of crude vegetable extracts. These wore likely to increase in importance. Pharmaceutical science had its own functions and had often been a training ground for scientists who became eminent in other fields.

Describing the personnel of the House of Representatives and of the Government of New Zealand as on the decline, Mr Leicester Webb, Christchurch, lecturer in political science, read a paper to the historical section. He claimed that in the last 50 years the average ages of politicians had increased beyond 50 years, the standard of education had fallen and professional men had decreased. If the vacancies in the New Zealand Cabinet were advertised they would road: “Wanted, a Cabinet Minister; preference given to small farmers over GO; education above the elementary stage a disadvantage. Mr Webb said the fall in the quality of the members of Parliament was due to the insecurity of political life, the dependence on party support and the decline on the part of Parliament in Government. Weaknesses were beginning to appeal’ behind the facade of representative government in British countries. The greatest of these weaknesses was the decline of Government. Dr J. V. Duhig. Queensland, also made observations on politicians when he was deploring the trend towards the nationalisation of medicine. Ho said he could see no hope of a rapid evolution towards universal happiness until the scientific outlook was imposed on politics. Doctors should participate in political life. Professor James Hight, Christchurch. urged a better teaching of history'. Men in public affairs should know more history and the pooplo and their leaders should be prepared by an education which led them adequately to appreciate the value of history.