PLANT RESEARCH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 99, 27 March 1939, Page 9

PLANT RESEARCH

NEW STATION OPENED. AUCKLAND CEREMONY. ~ For Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 20. “Wherever science points it is our job to go. Politically speaking, we must go whoro it points or bo lost in the struggle* for existence,” said the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. 3. Savage), in concluding his speech at the formal opening of the administration and laboratory building at the Mount Albert plant research station on Saturday. The ceremony, which marked an important stage in the process of establishing the station, which has been under way for more than two yeans, was attended by a gathering of several hundred people, including representatives of Oovernment departments, local and educational authorities and agricultural and horticultural organisations. The Director-General of Agriculture (Mr A. H. Cockayne) presided in his capacity as Director of the Plant Research Bureau. With the Prime Minister were the Minister in Charge of the Department of Scientific, and Industrial Research (Hon. D. G. Sullivan); the secretary of the_ department, Dr. Marsden ; and the director of the Plant Diseases Division, Dr. G. H. Cunningham. Air Sullivan said that the present Government, since assuming office, had pursued a steady policy designed to improve the research services of the Dominion. He described the creation in 1936 of the Plant Research Bureau Committee, and the organisation which had been set up in pursuance of its recommendations. In order to carry out its plans for extended plant research, the Government, within the past three years, had expended a total sum of £32,164 on land, new buildings and equipment for the agronomy division (farm crops), in Lincoln, the entomologv division in Nelson, the grasslands division in Palmerston North, and the plant diseases division in Auckland. The expenditure in Auckland had been £2600 for land, and £16.300 for buildings, and a further £6OOO would be required for the completion of the buildings and equipment needed bv the different divisions. The staff of 30 comprised 14 professional, four technical, five clerical and seven field officers. ALL NEW ZEALANDERS. “I am proud to say that they art all New Zealanders, and that _tlu scientists are all graduates of the University of New Zealand, ’ added tin Minister. ‘We are producing very lint scientists in this country. Some o them have done magnificently abroad It is said we are losing too many, per

haps because we do not provide the remuneration that is obtainable elsewhere. We do not want to lose them. Wo want to keep them so that they may contribute to the cultural and economic life of the community.” ■ In congratulating the director (Dr. Cunningham) on the fulfilment of his hopes, Mr Sullivan said that if scientists wore unforms the doctor would be entitled to that of a general. I)r. Cunningham expressed the thanks of himself and his. division to the Government for providing facilities, staff, and equipment. PREMIER’S ADDRESS. Mr Savage, after remarking humorously that it the community had no oplitieal pests it would have a lot more science, quoted a sentence from Dean Swift to the effect that the man wfio made two blades of corn or grass grow in tiie space of one did a more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together. Labour, he aded, had learnt the need for paying heed to science and not blundering along as others had done far too much in the past. “One type of political pest says that we can’t afford to spend money as we are doing here and on other research,” remarked Mr Savage. “I sav that wc can’t afford not to spend it, and 1 join with Mr Sullivan in the hope that Mr Walter Nash is listening. Me must watch where we are going financially, but we must pay regard to science.” Plant life was of enormous importance to any nation, and especially to New Zealand. Mr Savage could give his assurance that the Government would not stop at small things in developing research institutions. It realised that such work must be carI' ried out in many spheres. Mr Savage then declared the station open.