CAWTHRON INSTITUTE

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 13

CAWTHRON INSTITUTE

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. Dr Benham, president of the New Zealand Institute, mado a statement at the meeting of the Board of Governoi'3 of the institute last, week regarding the scheme for the working of the Cawthron Institute. The institute would, Dr Benham said, be erected close to the city of Nelson, after tho war is over. Tiio work undertaken would be scientific research 'into the problems of agriculture, particularly as affecting tho growing of fruit. It was hoped that in the future agricultural problems of all kinds would be studied at the institute—tho testing of trees, tho improvement of cultui-c, tho chemistry and physics of soils, tho development of forest trees, cto. Tho work might be extended in other directions. Hitherto no institution in New Zealand had been wholly or even mainly given up to &cientifio research. The Cawthron Institute would be equipped, organised, and financed for this purposo alone. The sum of money at the disposal of tho trustees was about £200,000, and tho trustees, who, for tho most part, wero business men, were determined that the annual expenses should not excoed tho iuterest from the principal.. The

income that was now accumulating wouid be used to erect the necessary buildings after tho director had been appointed, and in consultation with him. Tho site had already been purchased and surveyed. Tho control of the institute Dr Benham added, would bo undertaken under _ the supervision of the trustees by an advisory board acting with tho director. Tho bodies represented on the advisory board would be the Oawthron trustees, the Board of Agriculture, the Ntlson Institute, the Board of Studies of tho New Zealand University, and tho governors of tho New Zealand Institute. It was hoped to secure as director a_ firstclass chemist from England, but this appointment probably would not bo made before tho end of tho war. The full_ staff would include experts in plant physiology and plant pathology, and economic zoology and geology, but that would be in the future. The director, at tho outset, would bo assisted by a plant pathologist and an orchardist, to whom adequato salaries would be paid. Provision would be made for the award of scholarships, and every encouragement would bo given to students properly qualified to pursue research, in agricultural matters.