Science Congress at Auckland

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 39, 16 February 1937, Page 4

Science Congress at Auckland

MR. J. J. STEVENSON'S ADDRESS TO ROTARY CLUB The speaker at the Palmerston North Rotary Club's luncheon yesterday was Mr. J. J. Stevenson, who dealt briefly with the recent congress of the New Zealand and Australian Association for the Advancement of Science. The chairman was Mr. R. J, Carter, and there was a fair attendance of members. Mr. Stevenson, warned his listeners at the outset that as the discussions and the papers had been rather technical, he proposed to stick fairly closely to his notes. He added that up to 60 papers had been given daily and that he had been struck with the hospitality extended visitors, and the numbers of farmers and clergy who had attended. He said that when the roll call was taken some six or seven hundred people had answered. Mr. Stevenson mentioned that one of the outstanding personalities who had been at the congress was Sir Douglas Mawson, the retiring president. One speaker had contended that if the rising generation was fed with the proper foodstuffs most of the ills at present in existence would disappear. Other speakers dealt with the ever growing importance of science in the existing scheme of things. Dealing more particularly with the value of soil surveys, Mr. Stevenson mentioned the result of one in Queensland, which had resulted in the discovery of An area suitable for the growing of cotton. Another speaker contended that without immigration, which would reduce the standard of living, Australia would reach a level of 60,000,000 in 200 years. Another speaker held that Wellington could claim to have New Zealand's most bracing climate, Auckland being fifth and Hanmer twelfth. Another lecturer claimed there was a very hot layer 120 miles above the surface of the earth and that the temperature was 1000 degrees centigrade. Mr. Stevenson went on to speak of the methods of eliminating plant disease in different parts of New Zealand He mentioned the introduction of insects to deal with prickly pear, ragwort, bidi ‘ bid and other 44 noxious weeds," ' It was contended by prominent visitors that Now Zealand led the world in grass culture and it was intended that New Zealand's methods should be introduced into their own countries. Statistics disclosed the fact that off New Zealand's grass lands was produced 600,000 tons of foodstuffs and clothing a year, representing 401bs. per acre. In conclusion, Mr. Stevenson mentioned that the earliest memories of men wero associated with grass which, whatever happened to other things, was immortal. 44 Grass is the carpet of the infant and it is also the blanket of the dead," he said. The vote of thanks to the speaker was moved by Mr. F. J. Nathan,