SCIENCE AND HUSBANDRY

Northern Advocate, 27 October 1932, Page 9

SCIENCE AND HUSBANDRY

■ VALUE NEGLECTED, . TIME FOR ACTION. ADDRESS BY LORD BLEDISLOE. (Special to "Northern Advocate.”; WELLINGTON, This Day. Addressing the Wellington Philosophical Society, last evening, the Gov-ernor-General confined his remarks to “the economic value of agricultural science. ’ ’ Lord Bledisloe said: —“In no field of human activity is the economic value of science so grudgingly acknowledged as in that of husbandry, and yet in none has it been move abundant or more easy to demonstrate to those who have not the vision to realise the truth. Empirical methods may suffice in the past to ensure a livelihood for the farmer of average capacity and common sense. However, with the insistent demands on the part of the pampered consumer for over higher standards of quality and uniformity, with the claim of the worker for a higher scale of living, and with a heavier dead-weight load of public burdens, nothing but scientific knowledge, or, at least, improved methods, based upon such knowledge, will enable the primary producer so to reduce his production costs and enhance the quality and Uniformity of his products as to ensure their absorption, with profit to himself, in a crowded world market which holds out a poor reward to those whose methods are antiquated, and who are disinclined to modify them in the light of modern scientific discovery.

“It is safe to prophesy,” said His Excellency, “that whatever alleviation on transient economic distresses, aggravated by world poverty and consequent under-consumption, may be effected by international fiscal adjustments and preferences, the victory in the inevitably fierce competition between the world’s primary ju'odueerg will rest ultimately with those countries peopled by intelligent and energetic races which recognise the economic value of scientific research and apply its findings without undue delay to the winning of wealth from the soil. But if this is to be the policy of nations and of their rulers, it is essential for scientists, however distasteful the task "may be, to prove to the farming communities the value of their discoveries in pounds, shillings and ponce.”

Commercial Benefit. Lord Bledisloe said that, with the more complete collaboration of scientists with one another, as well as with the rural practitioner* than in the past, no justification could be found for decrying the economic value of agricultural science, or, subject only to overriding national necessity, for the improvident starvation of scientific research of proved commercial benefit to the countryside.

“Any attempt to assess in terms of money the steady and continuous commercial gain with which science is enriching the farming community, and through them the whole body politic, would, of necessity, be lacking in precision, comprehensiveness or finality,” said Lord Bledisloe, in proceeding to indicate hy illustrations the scope and magnitude of the debt which the farmer owes to the scientist. He did so. he said, in the hope that a slight glimpse at achieved results might afford food for serious thought to those who questioned the value of the nat-

ional investment represented hy the... subsidised activities of the latter. ’ (< No nation which seeks to sell its primary products- in competitive markets can afford to ignore the ecotioftiir value of agricultural science, ” Said' His Excellency in conclusion. , Its promotion involves some public expenditure, but if its activities be properly •

organised and directed tvith discrimination and. foresight, such expenditnie should prove a most remunerative .investment, and result in an immeasurable increase of national wealth.”