MAN'S DEBT TO SCIENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18296, 12 January 1923, Page 8

MAN'S DEBT TO SCIENCE.

Poison* Used ia War.

• '■':. ■£;■ "———— *** "', ■■■-.- J ' ! -■ MODERN APPLICATIONS. PRACTICAL AND SPIRITUAL. THE MARCH OF KNOWLEDGE. ADDRESS BY MR. KNIBBS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. TharecaTAt the Town Ha.ll to-night. Mr. G. H. •Knibbs, Director of the Australian Institute of Science and .Industry, and pre-sident-elect of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, delivered the presidential address iu connection with the science congress now meeting. There was a large audience, composed of visiting scientists and an inter- j ested section of the general public. | Taking as his subject, "Science and Its ■ Service to Man," the speaker pointed out the extraordinary accessions to man's knowledge of nature during the last century and the beginning of the presentcentury. In some countries great research laboratories and observatories had been created and lavishly endowed- Mr. Knibbs stated that- Australasian progress, good as it had been, must now be measured by the state of the -world to-

The world-wide developments and expansions of the various populations called for immediate consideration in regard to cur future in world politics and of our place in scientific effort. The role of systematised knowledge and its application to human needs had an ever-grow-ing significance. This was illustrated by the history of modern science. It indicated primarily the characteristics of the higher elements of science which served not merely utilitarian purposes, namely, the maintenance of man on tne planet, but provided such maintenance as enabled him to spiritually preserve and intellectually grasp the beauty, magnificence, and majesty of the whole range of nature—in fact, to make him a * student capable of appreciating and solving apparently the most hopeless problems. ■■'-; Accessories in the Search. Referring first to the accessories with which man had furnished himself in his search for knowledge, during which mien inventions as the ultra-microscope, large telescope, and X-rav spectrograph were enumerated, the speaker then took subject by subject, dealing first with the wonders of the astronomic world, referring to the recent solar eclipse and the Einstein theory of relativity. Mr. Knibbs said the question was being -examined as to how far it was legitimate to attempt to explain phenomena by- means of mathematical equations' applicable to a suppositious, dimensional world in which one co-ordinate, time, is "soi generis and is treated as if it were arthogonally related to "the rest. .. "Mr. . Wilden Carr has said that Einstein's world is a world of mere figures," continued the lecturer. " The Newtonian univenw could form a, picture, at least to God; but, according to Einstein there! cannot be any picture, even for God, of Einstein's universe. Dr. Eobb, who recently discussed the whole matter, has summed this up by saying: 'It seems from this that not even the Almighty Himself could understand Einstein's theory of relativity.' Dr. Eobb could not help thinking that- the fault lay, not with the Almigtety, but with the theory." -» ; Passing from the world of the infinitely great to that of the infinitely minute, Mr. Knibbs dealt interestingly with modern investigations regarding atoms, radio-activity, and the disintegration of elements. He next discussed ■with" & wealth' of technical knowledge the question of science as a weapon of defence. '

Mr. Knihbs said that recent studies as to population developments cf the world show that war was inevitable unless nations submitted to mutual discipline far surpassing any dreamed of at the present time. The character of various poisons used in the war was referred to. It 'was said that the dye industry "was riot merely a key industry, but was essential to safety. While it could manufacture dyes, perfumes, synthetic drugs, etc., needed for a country, it was also continually available as an explosive and fas factory. For that reason, other than purely economic considerations had to be taken into account, for '-.instance, consideration as to national safety. One of the poisons used caused inflammation '■• of -the surface of the ©ye (conjunctivitis) by . thet-use of one' part- in j 4,000,000, and ■ skin burn with one part in 4,000,000. One cf the worst poisons was known as the " dew of death.' * The need for research was strongly emphasised. It was not sufficient to make available the immense stores of existing information. The development of faculty was also a matter of * nupreme moment. ■;;■' The - lavish gifts of Prince Demidoff, Lick, Rogers, Rockfeller, Carnegie, the late Prince of Monaco, and Cawthron were mentioned; also that the British Government had granted £1,000,000 for industrial research associations. Japan 'had built. a national research laboratory at tbs cost of over £500,000, of Which sura the" Mikado had contributed £100,000. In Germany the Badische Soda-urid-Analin Fabrick had spent 17 year* and £1,000,000 in order to produce satisfactory indigo. ; At the beginning of the century she was. paying annually £600,000 for dye and at the outbreak of war was selling annually £2,500,000 of dye.

.iu necessity for Research.' ! Tn arguing the necessity for research l two illustrations were taken. The "knock" in internal-combustion engines, and the use of lead tetraethyi to produce light without heat. The luminous efficiency of j a firefly was 99.5 per cent, and that of the best electric lamp only 4 per cent. Mr. Knibbs closed his address by em- I gbasising the need for creating forEhg- 1 sh-speaking countries a national appre- I elation of science which must commence : in childhood in order that instinctively i the British people will respond, as they* i do rot now, to scientific research. His i hope was to see a. new spirit born in Aus- i tralasia. While no one knew what I lay on the knees of the gods, ] there was something within the mind and j heart of every great people that responded to the dreams of excellence, and that took fire when, the vision of national destiny was before it. The Motherland had a great past. Was her offspring in the southern seas, illumined by "the gem-pointed cross," and "the blazing pomp ot Orion," to rise to material : intellectual and moral greatness among the earth's peoples? If so, the path was strenuous but glorious. All visions of ease and luxury were but opiates and they led to destruction. They needed to gird themselves for the task, and'create for Australasia's sons the power to know something of the splendid mysteries of the boundless universe, and of their own little world; in order that it might use to the full the heritage which their nation had given them, and then, indeed, would science have rendered a noble service to the sons of Australasia.