SCIENCE CONGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11422, 19 January 1923, Page 4

SCIENCE CONGRESS

CONCLUDING DAY ANOTHER BATCH OF PAPERS DELIVERED. VARIOUS SUBJECTS. The Science Congress concluded at Victoria College on Wednesday. THE BLUE LUPIN FUNGAL DISEASES. bliss K. M. Curtis, of tlie Cawthron Institute. Nelson, presented to the Biology Section a paper upon two fungal diseases of the blue lupin which attack either stem or branch, and result in the yellowing and subsequently the falling of tlie leaves above the ooint of attack. The more important disease of tho f wo is caused by botrybis cinerea, and the second is caused bv a species of aseochyta. After describing the symptoms of tl'.e two diseases, Miss Curtis suggested measures for combating them. They consisted of drainage of the soil ■■nd planting the lupin sufficiently far apart to ensure circulation cf the air round the stalks.

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY SOME ECONOMIC ASPECTS. In a paper upon the economic aspects of the kauri gum industry, Mr Bi. W. Firth said that the importance of the industry was shown by the fact that the total value of the gum exported so far amounted to just over twenty million pounds sterling. The kauri gum lands were still of great extent, and it was a matter for questirJA whether the process of alienation to the private owner should continue. The gum diggers formed nearly 90 per cent, of the labour element in the industry, their earnings varying very considerably. One point mentioned, that is of some economic interest is the -periodic fluctuation noted in the export of gum. Another is that by the mathematical method of correlation an indication is given that tlie price of the gum is controlled to a great extent by an element of monopoly. Though the industry had been declining for some years it would probably be levivified by the initiation of large scale processes of production, as applied to the gum chip industry. WORKERS’ ILLS AND THE COUNTRY’S BOSS. "Industrial Hygiene in Australia” was the subject of a paper written by Dr D. C. Robertson. Director Division of In-d.-Ostial Hygiene, Commonwealth Department of Health, and read by Dr J. P. Frengley, secretary of . the hygiene section. The illnesses of wage-earners, which were largely preventible, represented collectively a large economic loss to the country, he 6aid. In Australia two per cent, of the working population was incapacitated by illness on every working day. which meant an annual loss of the productive equivalent of the service of 46,000 workers for one year. Tlie State, the employer, and the worker were the three parties directly interested in the measures taken to safeguard the industrial workers health. Each State in the Commonwealth had formulated certain minimum hygienic standards, but in some instance these did not conform to modern scientific knowledge. A conference on industrial hygiene was held: in Sydney in September last, at which certain resolutions were passed. The Commonwealth Government had established an industrial clinic at Bendigo, Victoria, and was contemplating the provision of similar clinics at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and Port Piriq, South Australia. An increasing number of employers were providing systems of medical service. Some employed full or part time physicians, but the majority qualified nurses. General interest in all matters relating to the welfare of the worker waa being evidenced. Practical instruction of wage-earners in health and safety {natters was a necessity.

ROPY BREAD A BACTERIAL DISEASE. Mr F. J. L. Armitage, Government Bacteriologist, Auckland, spoke on “Ropy Bread.” Ho said xopiness is a bacterial disease of bread, of which the infection is always present, but which exhibits itself as a disease only when the conditions are favourable. Normally it is in 6uch small quantities that even unfavourable orrcumistances do ntot afford sufficient opportunity for the disease to manifest itself; when, however, the amount of the infection is sufficiently large, the quantity of moisture in the bread sufficient, and the surrounding temperature high, then the factors are all present to enable the bacteria to multiply rapidly enough to establish the condition known as rope. It is, in fact, recognised as a hot weather disease. The characteristics a're: —(l) A disagreeable pungent, almost aromatic, smell; (2) a discolouration varying from a very slight darkening to a very dark brown] (3) a disintegration of the interior of the loaf due to hydrolysis of the protein and starch, producing a slightly shrunken and Very sticky mass which can be drawn out into long threads. The cause is a bacillus belonging to. the group Mesentericus (Flugge), of which there are several members. Samples of ropy bread of two different kinds, in various stages of the disease, were shown, tof ether with cultures of the different inds of the bacillus that causes rope, cultures from flour showing some of tho bacteria and yoasts that cause colourod spots in bread, cultures on bread sealed up in glass cases showing the effect of the growth of the different kinds, and stained preparations of rope bacilli were exhibited under the microscope. In conclusion, recommendations were made for the prevention of the disease, both to the miller, ae to the treatment of grain or flour, and to the baker as to the precautions to he taken in the bakehouses.

WATER SUPPLIES IMPORTANT PUBLIC NECESSITY. An address on water supplies was delivered by Mr F. J. L. Armitage, Government Bacteriologist, Auckland. Mr Armitage said that of all public necessities and utilities, the first in importance to the health and welfare of any community is its water supply. Not only is an adequate and pure supply a necessity, hut it is a sound commercial investment, whijo a h'ad or polluted water supply may cause heavy financial loss and an amount of sickness and death that io beyond monetary valuations. Whipple estimated that each typhoid death cost tho community ,£2000; this figuro included the cost of the nonfatal cases of typhoid, taking the average mortality as one case in ten. In the epidemic in 1922. in Auckland, the deaths numbered 18; the cost of the outbreak to the community, therefore, based on Whipple’s estimate, amounts to tho sum of .£36,000. In addition to this there is tho loss of reputation to the cily to bo considered. As Houston says, “A' lost, reputation as regards health a (feels a town long after the introduction of improved sanitary measures, and persists, despite the publication of reassuring vital statistics."

It is therefore necessary, not. only to provide an adequate, and as pure a

supply as possible, but to keep it soConstant skilled supervision - is necessary to effect this, comriting of: —(1) Sanitary survey, by wlr is meant full knowledge of the ting ground, its geological and s ia conditions and posfcit/ie sources of pollution.; (2) sanitary analysis, which includes physical, microscopical, chemical and bacteriological examinations; (3) the consideration of the results so obtained, and their application based on mature judgment and experience. The physical and microscopical examinations enable the examiner to trace tho origin of faults in colour, turbidity and smell, and even to find evidence of sewage pollution. The chemical analysis serves to reveal tlie past history and the present condition ot the water by determination of certain compounds of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen in tho waters. The bacteriological examination is by far the most important of the laboratory investigations of a water.

SOCIOLOGY AND MENTAL SCIENCE RELATION TO NATIONAL EDUCATION. “Sociology and Mental Science in Relation to National Education” was the subject of an address delivered by Prolessor D. R. White, M.A., Otago University'. The speaker dealt with the sociological condition of the 450,000 breadwinners of tlie Dominion. Of (hese he said 350,000 were men and 100,000 were women. They were divisible into six classes: (1) domestic workers, (2) industrial. (3) transport, (4) commercial, (5) agricultural, and (6) professional. The agricultural class numbered 1 nearly 30 per cent, of the community, the industrial 25 per cent., and the professional class somo 10 per cent. In every community there would always be different classes of workers, and in that sense tliero would always be class distinction. Tho work of each class was materially different. Some had to do mechanical or menial work, others the more responsible duties, and that difference in tho kind, of work would of itself bring about a difference in rank and position, with a corresponding diffeienco in remuneration. The community divided itself off into cla.ssos, and that division of labour tended to increase the sum total of national wealth. Tho division of labour had increased the efficiency of labour, and should also increase the sum total of human happiness and comfort. The six classes of breadwinners were really competing groups, each striving to get as large a share of the common fund as possible. The biological law of tbo struggle for existence found' its analogue in the laiv of industrial competition between different classes. The law of selfpreservation would always assert itself as a powerful motive in regulating human conduct It was not possible to get rid of -his .principle of self-interest. Indvidual interest and individual effort Were tho best means of securing the highest efficiency in , service. But competition became unfair, selffish, even cruel. Unrestricted competition on the part ot the group of workers would soon bring down the whole fabric of human society. The State, therefore, must take upon itself the duty 'by remedial and restrictive legislation of regulating the die tribution of national'wealth.

With regard to the position of women in the fields of industry, they were to be found in every avenue of -work, and this was an entirely new development in modern democratic States. At one time it was thought that the home was the appropriate place, biit this phase of sociological evolution had gone. There were some 250,000 women engaged in domestic duties, to those add 100,000 in the different classes of breadwinners; and thus it was found that exactly one-half of the work of the Dominion was carried on by women. What share of the wealth of the community were they entitled to for their services? That was an economic rather than a sociological problem.

The paper further dealt with the education of the .classes to enable them to perform their duties efficiently. Refer r ence was also made to the influence of national education on the character of the people, and showed that the aim of national education should he: (1) Efficiency on the part of the workers, (2) intelligent citizens and (3) honest men and Women. More education was required. The greatest danger to which democracy was liable lay in tho ignorance, apathy and indefferance of the people. The paper then dealt at length with the ethical and political principles necessary for Ihe moral elevation of the people. Moral training was institutional as Well as personal. Every class did not require the came standard of education, but everyone must ha-e an opportunity of rising from the lowest to the highest, or professional ' class. The workers’ educational classes were doing great service in educating the people, and the institution promised to become a people’s university, and. to encourage study a degree of associate in arts and science should be established. The remedy for the present state of affairs was not less ib at more education. There should be part-time compulsory edlcation for those between the ages of 13 and 18. The industrial class would rule in the future, and if it was not better educated than it was to-day discontent soon would become anarchy and revolution.

CLOUD HEIGHTS AND VELOCITIES AN INTERESTING PAPER. "Clouds Heights from Melbourne Observatory Photographs,” was the title of a paper read at the Science Congress on Wednesday by Captain Kidson, M.Sc., Victoria. The paper presented the Jesuits of a series of photographs taken for the determination of the heights of various types of cloud. These gave the height of cirrus cloud, the mare’s tail type, as ranging between 2000 ft and 42,flfl0ft. Between S2,OOOft and 34,000 ft is an important layer in which the speed of movement is greater than at any other level in the air, averaging in fact over 70 miles per hour. Cirrc-stra' us cloud is slightly lower than cirrus. Corro-stratus is the thin, high, pure white cloud, often seen before the advent of rainy weather. Solar and lunar halos are produced in' it. It shows a great concentration at 29,000 ft. Altocumulus cloud, which occurs in sheets of dense and dark cloudlets, is more y>r less closely connected together. Its height ranges from about 10,000 ft to 23,000 ft. but has a pronounced maximum frequency at 16,000 ft. At this height it ‘usually has a high velocity. It is suggested that in the region covered by this cloud, air is being sucked up into the higher levels. This uplift of the air brings it into regions of lower pressure. It, therefore, expands and cools. Its moisture is thus condensed and falls in the form of rain.

Other cloud types were also dealt with in the paper. The greatest velocity recorded by any of the observations v as 172 miles per hour. Observations made at Melbourne during the last 27 years by Mr E. T. Quayle. of the Central Weather Bureau, indicate that this velocity is very seldom exceeded. It is certainly unlikely that 306 miles per hour is ever reached, even at the greatest height. This is interesting in view of statements recording velocities up to 350 miles per hour in North America. It has been suggested that these enormous velocities, which occur in westerly winds, should he made use of by specially constructed aeroplanes. There is nothing to indicate that any sneh scheme is possible in Australia. The paper forms a valuable addition to meteorological knowledge in tbo Southern Hemisphere.

RADIUM IN NEW ZEALAND ROCKS AND SOILS. Mr M. N. Rogers, Victoria College. Wellington, read a paper at the Science Congress yesterday on “Radioactivity of Rocks and Natural Waters of New Zealand.” He said that tho results showed that on the whole there was slightly less radium in the rocks and soil of New

Zealand than, in other older countries. He added that there are no natural radium and uranium minerals in Now Zealand. Interesting results were obtained from the waters of Waiacri and Rotorua. The Karepete Blowhole was found to contain a largo amount of radium emanation compared with, the actual gas content of the outflowing stream.

AGRICULTURE AND RAINFALL MECHANICAL EQUIVALENT GF HEAT. "Influence of Agricultural Development on Rainfall” was tho subject of au address delivered by Mr F, T. Qua!*, of the Commonwealth Meteorological Service. Mr Quail 6aid he has found that the rainfall in certain parts of South-eastern Australia has increased progressively in the cultivated area and its irrigation Tho increase had been from four to six inches every year, and has become more distributed. The results appeared real, and were of great importance as indicating how rainfall in dry districts may be increased. Mr B. O. Hercus, M.Sc., Melbourne, an ex-student of Victoria College, gave an account of an investigation on the mechanical equivalent of heat, which inquiry has been in progress for some years by Professor Laby and others. The mechanical equivalent of heat is the number of units of work required to be performed to produce one unit of heat when the work is used, as in the example of friction, in producing heat Tho method is a direct one, and is independent of our knowledge of the electrical units. Tho heating is produced by means of Frucault currents, and is measured by a oontinr»ous flow method, with platinum thermometry. No results are yet available, but it is hoped to secure an accuracy of 1 in bOOO, which is considerably better than any previous measurement by a direct method.

TOURING NEW ZEALAND SCIENCE CONGRESS DELEGATES LEAVE WELLINGTON. On tbe conclusion yesterday of the sittings of the Science Congress, the visiting members left Wellington for different parts of New Zealand to see the scenic beauties of the Dominion and various centres of interest. Professor L. S. Cotton (Assistant Professor of Geology, Sydney “University) and Professor T. Griffiths Taylor (Professor of Geography, Sydney University) left by train for Waimarino, and will ascend Mount Ruapehu. A large party, including Mr G. H. Knibbs (president of the association) and Sir Douglas Mawson (the well-kaown Antarctic explorer) left for Nelson last night, and from there will proceed down the West Coast to visit some of the glacier regions. Sir Baldwin Spencer, Professors Skeates, Ward, Richards, Ur C. Andrews, Miss Maudsley, and Miss Bage were passengers by Die south ferry boat last night. It is their intention to spend some days at the Mount Cook Hermitage. The Southern Cold Lakes district is also included' in their- tour On their return to the North Island, some o$ the visitors will tour the Taranaki district, with the view of ascending Mount Eigmont. The large maiority of the Australian scientists intend to return to Australia by steamers leaving Wellington and Auckland on February 9th.

NEW ZEALAND FLOWERS

WONDERFUL DISPLAY AT KELBURN.

One of the most enjoyed events of the Science Congress took place on Monday afternoon, when members of the congress were entertained by the Government Biologist, Mr A. H. Cockayne, and his staff, at the Biological Laboratories, Kelburn. Afternoon tea was providedand dispensed by the wives and lady members of tbe staff. The guests were received by Mr and Mrs A. H. Cockayne. Some 200 visitors were present, including the Hon. Minister for Agriculture, and many distinguished scientists and professors from all parte of Australasia. The various departments qf the laboratories were thrown oipen for inspection, and the exhibits showing some of the activities of the staff were viewed with very considerable interest. The main object of the function waa to give the visitors, particularly those from Australia, some representative idea of those natural features of the country not accessible to many during their brief 6tay in the Dominion. The walla of the seed-testing laboratory—the sixth largest in the world —which, for the purposo of hospitality, had been; converted into a reception room, were covered wtih some scores of the late Hon. J. C. Richmond's water-colours, which, through the generosity of Mis 6 D. K. Richmond, had been lent for the occasion. Though the primary appeal of such drawings is to the artist, so accurate is the draughtsmanship and so subtle the colouring that to a student of geology they would be hardly less interesting. The collection as a whole must have proved] a revelation to the visitors from Australia, both of the scenery of New Zealand and of the existence of so wonderful a record of it. An opportunity was also afforded to obtain a glimpse of the beauties of our alpine flowers. Tbe centrepiece of the table consisted of a magnificent bowl of Celmisia Coriaoia, the great mountain daisy of the Southern Alps. These, with the edelweiss at both ends of the board, were a foretaste of the great collection of New Zealand flowers which formed the central attraction in the “upstairs laboratories. Here were gathered together eeveral hundred species of the more spectacular of the indigenous flora from north and south, from seashore, and from the slopes of the Southern Alps—all ae fresh as though the morning's dew of the -mountains 6till lingered on their petals. Mountainlilies (the largest buttercup in the world), violets, and orchids, flaming scarlet mistletoe, vegetable sheep from the Tararuas, myrtles, giant Spaniards, Veronicas, and a host of others too numerous to mention filled shelf after shelf. The walls were decorated 1 with enlarged photograpns of native flowers in their natural habitats, and of insects, fungi, seeds and weeds of importance in New Zealand agriculture.

AFTERNOON TEA AT BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. In connection with Science Congress, an afternoon tea gathering was held this week at the Biological Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, Kelburn. The numerous guests, consisting largely of members of the biology and agriculture sections of tho congress, were received' by Mrs A. H. Cockayne, and assisting were Mesdames Waters, Atkinson, Miller, Cunningham, and Myers, wives of various members of the staff. Among many interesting things to be cson in the several branches of the laboratory was a display of Now Zealand indigenous plants in flower, tbe feature being a flue alpine collection freshgathered from the Arthur’s Pass neighbourhood. A very successful and enjoyable gathering was the general verdict of all who were present.

SCIENCE CONGRESS CHEMICAL SECTION. (To the Editor "N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —It is to be regretted that greater prominence has not been given in tbe Press of Wellington to the papers read before tbe chemical section of the association. It may be admitted that the results of chemical research are, as a rule, not spectacular, and consequently not good "copy.” I submit, however, that the public is interested in the results of the research work of chemists, particularly in its economic aspect, and is anxious to be informed of the utilitarian results of such effort. ' Many of the papers submitted to the

section come in this category, and the potential value to the Dominion, of the work of Professor Evans and his assistants on the scientific aspect of the lignitic coals of New Zealand, undertaken at the Canterbury College, is a case in point.

The work now being undertaken in Auckland, under Professor Worley, on the kauri gums, may revolutionise ideas as to tho best use to which these trees may be put, and that cutting them for timber does not represent their most economic value. The paper on the oil of the "manuka,” and that on the chemical components of the "ngaio,” were also of an economic character, and this work should not be allowed to go unnoticed.

Some of the papers were undoubtedly in the realm of pure science, and thus more or lc3s of a hypothetical character; but this does not indicate that they were of less valuo, oven from a monetary pfandpoint. The hypothesis of Kekule on the structure of the benzine ring, for instance, has had a greater money value than any other suggestion ever advanced in the whole field of scientific thought, and who can say that the theoretical papers emanating from the laboratories of Victoria College and of Auckland read at the conference may not also have some value.

Coming from Australia, I am surprised and gratified with the high standard of chemical researches now being carried on in New Zealand, researches that mnst eventually result in'advancing the material interests of the Dominion.

I am also pleased to know that there are so many promising young chemists here of a similar stamp with those chemists in oilier parts of the Empire, whose energy and ability did so much towards our success in tile late war.

Chemistry as a science is ever progressing. and it is not well when this fact goes unrecognised. HENRY G. SMITH, President of the Chemistry Section.