RESEARCH IN NEW ZEALAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 January 1936, Page 3

RESEARCH IN NEW ZEALAND

A CRITICISM “The main fault in the research work in New Zealand is that the Department of Agriculture, which is an accumulation of bureaucrats, goes its own way without regard to ihe fundamental work which should be concentrated in the University—the University is at present regarded merely as a teaching institution.” 'I his criticism was made by Dr. 0. H. Frankcl, Plant Geneticist of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who was interviewed by the Christchurch "Press” on his return from a trip to England and the Continent. Dr. Fraukel said that everywhere he liad been —he had visited about three dozen research institutions —he had found that the institutions which were successful in economic, or applied, research were all prominent in the fundamental work.

“Our tendency to require quick economic results in research work is bound to defeat its own ends,” said Dr. Frankel, “unless we give our scientists a chance to do fundamental work. In my opinion this can only be achieved if the University takes the lead in all research activities and makes up its mind to be! a real spiritual centre of them —which, of course, is not the case at present. Without the theoretical basis, application is always insecure, and that theoretical results gained in one part of the, earth are not always applicable in another ; the second, and really the more important, reason, is that the research worker is kept alive to developments in his science only by fundamental work. The man who has not the urge to look for fundamental truth is as a rule no, good in applied work.”