SCIENTISTS IN JAVA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20262, 23 May 1929, Page 11

SCIENTISTS IN JAVA.

PAPERS ON NATIVE RACES. CIVILISATION IN PAPUA. United Service. BATAVIA, May 21. The delegates to the Science Congress to-day visited Bandoeng and- inspected various institutes of scientific interest, and made air trips. Professors Vanhan, R. Lawson and P. Marshall (New Zealand) discussed measuring gravitation in the Pacific. Dr. Matsuyama spoke on the application of modern methods for volcanological research. In the ethnological section Professor Elliot Smith and Professor Radcliffe Brown discussed totemism, the first froni the histoi ial and the second from the functional standpoint. Professor Brown said the conclusions from uotod_ facts for the government of primitive people were of the utmost interest. Professor R. E. Park (Chicago) read a paper on the crossbreeding of races in America. Professor A. N. Burkitt (Sydney) read a paper prepared by Sir Hubert Murray, Covernor of Papua, on the response of the Papuan natives to western civilisation, in which he pointed out that the natives have to accept western civilisation, or go down. The writer, who treated the subject from both the western and the native angle, voiced humane views,, and came to optimistic conclusions. One of the points in favour of western influence, according to Sir Hubert, is that it lids the natives of their mortal feat of malevolent ghosts and sorcery.