PACIFIC COUNTRIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18763, 17 January 1923, Page 6

PACIFIC COUNTRIES

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS. AN INTERESTING REVIEW. (Pei: United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 16. At the Town Hail to-uLhl the final lecture under the auspices of the Australasian Association for rlio Advancement of Science v, as delivered by Mr E. O. Andrews, Government geologist of New South Wales and general serve: ary of the Congress. The major portion of his address was devoted to outlining the history of the Pan-Pacific Congress held at, Honolulu in 1920. and to a review of the great humanitarian work that' Congress hoped to accomplish in the interests of the peoples living in and around the Pntilic Ocean. The aim of this triennial Congress was, ho said, to promote harmonious relations between the nations within the great Pacific region. This he expected would be accomplished by consideration of the economic and social problems which were common to all these great nations. Leading scientists of the world interested in Pan-Paciiic problems will meet in Melbourne and Sydney and will give freely of their great knowledge concerning the various Pacific problems needing solution. At Ibis symposia it has been arranged that all the existing knowledge will bo correlated and co-ordinated, and in this way it is confidently expected that problems such as “bunchy top in bananas, - ’ “yellows” in pineapple", sugar cane posts, rhinoceros beetle in cocoa nut. rust in wheat, malaria, elephantiasis, the preservation and administration of the native races, protection against earthquakes, forecasting of weather, wireloss telegraphy, ocean charting, fisheries, and other urgent problem?, will bo solved

in the near future. To this end 250 loading institutions in various countries, including Britain. France. Holland, and from Europe, since they have interests in the Pacific, have been invited to send delegates. Two hundred and fifty eminent scientists concerned with Pan-Pacific problems have been invited also to send delegates to Sydney where the next congress will be held.