Value Of Australian, N.Z. Science Talks

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1947, Page 5

Value Of Australian, N.Z. Science Talks

(Rec. 2 p.m.) PERTH, This Day. The Value of the Congress of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science has been demonstrated more than ever by the Perth meetings, said Sir Theodore Rigg, of the Cawthron Institute, on the eve of his departure for home. “These conferences strengthen the bonds of Australian and New Zealand science.

“At the present time, owing to the great importance of the natural resources of the Empire because of the dollar impasse, cooperation, particularly between agricultural scientists of the two countries, is extremely desirable.”

Sir Theodore pointed out that the conference attendance was a record, and New Zealand was represented by nine delegates, representing Government departments, the Cawthron Institute, and scientific societies. IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS

In a brief survey of its deliberations, he said one paper of especial New Zealand agricultural and scientific interest was that dealing with “trace” element deficiencies frcm cobalt, copper and molybden. It was a matter of great interest that both Western Australia and New Zealand had deficiencies of cobalt and copper, and work had been proceeding in both countries simultaneously. Another important paper of direct interest to New Zealand was that dealing with the infertility of ewes, arising from an exclusive diet of subterranean clover.

In a hurried tour of the south-west of the state, Sir Theodore had an opportunity to contrast tobacco growing conditions with those of the Nelson district, and the apple orchard country with that of Nelson and Hawke’s Bay.