SCIENCE IN INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19195, 8 December 1925, Page 11

SCIENCE IN INDUSTRY.

NEW ZEALAND'S APATHY. STRONG DEVELOPMENT NEEDED. VALUE OF RESEARCH WORK. The importance of science as an economic factor in the community and tho apathy of New Zealanders in relation to its importance were dealt with by Professor F. P. Worley in an address to the Auckland Rotary Club yesterday, 011 "Science and tho Community." He said tho interest in science in the Dominion to-day was not as live as it should bo in tho interests of the community. The wealth of New Zealand was dependent upon scientific investigations made years ago. Had it not been for an experiment years ago in connection with cold storage conditions would have been very different from what they were to-day. All the investigations of years ago were carried out without any idea of application, and realising the amount owed to science he wanted to sco the law of science developed. Importance to Community. "If we want to make uso of science for tho benefit of the community then those who run the community should have a measure of the importance and possibilities of science," said Professor Worley. "If we were to take a census of members of Parliament, city councillors and other authorities to find out how much scientific training they had we should find that it would be very little." Referring to tho material aspect of science in relation to the Professor Worley alluded to tho activities of the City Council. Harbour Board and Power Board. Would any private firm using the amount of material of these bodies attempt tho whole thing without laboratories and a scientific staff ? Yet these bodies had no means of examining defects in materials, of testing them, or of arriving at their quality. If the purchase of materials was considered it could bo seen that they had either to be bought from reputable firms or on con-, tract. Unless firms had some means of testing ' the materials submitted and delivered to them it was not safe to buy them by contract. It cost, more to buy them from reputable firms. When he considered what could be done by the establishment of laboratories he thought of what was being done in other parts of the world. For the past six years there had been a laboratory attached to tho Sydney City Council and it had more than kept itself. The saving on coal alone had been great. A saving of one per cent, on the coal used by the Auckland City Council would support a laboratory. Scientific Spirit Needed. "In spite of all our teaching we have not produced a scientific spirit in our people," the* professor said. "We have been teaching about science but have been lacking in the training of scientific thought. Science after all is only refined common sense with a big percentage of refinement. The peopie do not want scientific research. The Government does not want research. Good men have the greatest difficulty in getting placed. They can go anywhere they choose." The chairman, Mr. H. P. Kissling, said that while in Australia he heard an eminent English scientist urge the raising of funds for scientific research. In proposing a vote of thanks to Professor Worley, the Hon. George Fowlds said he agreed that New Zealand wanted a scientific method and spirit. It was true that very little had been done by the public. He felt sure the time was coming when science would be applied to industry. It was already apparent in j the field of agriculture.