SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 6

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

SIR FRANK HEATH’S RECOMMENDATIONS.

The recommendations submitted to the Prime Minister by Sir Prank Heath in regard to the organisation of scientific and industrial research in New Zealand include the establishment of a new rtment for the control of this important work. The new organisation will be constituted on the lines suggested by Sir Frank Heath and based largely on those followed in England in connection with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The report has been carefully considered by the Government and immediate steps will be taken to give general effect to the recommendations which have been made.

In his report to the Government on the organisation of scientific and industrial reeearch in New Zealand, •Sir Frank Heath, K.C.B. (Secretary to the Department of sciontifio and Industrial Research, England), after outlining the order of reference and itinerary states, inter alia:— It will not be necessary in this report to bring arguments in support of the need or desirability of establishing a suitable organisation in the Dominion for the encouragement of original scientific work and for the promotion of better scientific practice in the primary and secondary industries of the country. The question has been discussed at length by many different bodies at short intervals of time since 1916, when the British Committee of the Privy Council for Scientific and Industrial Research first invited the Dominion to set up machinery comparable to its own which would be able, among other things, to co-operate with the Homeland in the solution of problems of common interest.

The invitation which you issued last year to my Government, and which led to my presence here may be taken, it would appear, to signify the agreement of your Government as to the need. The problem now, as heretofore, is to discover the best way of establishing the new organ and the means necessary for maintaining it. 1 'nave been astonished at the interest in scientific work shown by nil classes of the community with which I have come in contact in the cities, the townships, and in the country; the keenness with which they feel the need for scientific help, and the sincerity of their desire to help forward any promising movement in every possible way. The farmers no less than the manufacturers, and particularly the younger men, rocopmise their ignorance of many things essential to their succors, and their realisation of problems requiring scientific aid is a hopeful augury for a well-considered scheme.

To-day the third generation realises that Nature’s bank has a balance which may be exhausted like their own: that her capital must b* carefully husbanded and put out wisely to the most profitable use; that more intensive cultivation brings its own difficulties of infection and disease; that increasing crops must find markets overseas which are in the grip of intern

national competition and where the prize goes without favour to the best product with the most regular supply. \ear by year the problem becomes more complex, and if nations are to be free from the anxieties of war. their energies will be devoted to the arts of peace and 10 the increased competition that must inevitably follow. What is needed, and, unless my judgment is profoundly astray, what the industries want is a steady, long-sighted policy of help and advice from the State in a national movement for the co-opera-tive attack on scientific problems similar to that successfully initiated here in the marketing of products overseas. Side by side with the traditional tendency to lean on the Government as an ever-present help in time of trouble, there is undoubtedly an instinctive feeling, which 1 believe to be sound, that the problem of industry must be solved by the industries themselves. But they want help and guidance.

If this be so, it may be possible on the foundations of a wide-spread popular instinct to lay the bases of a gradually extending and developing service without too severe a call upon the resources of the tax payer—a service guided and encouraged by a central organisation and clearing house of moderate size which will make the utmost use of all good work wherever it is being done, will stimulate team work not only between farmers and between manufacturers for their common good, but also team work between the scientific workers in the university colleges, in endowed institutions like tho Cawthron or the New Zealand Institute, and in the scientific establishments of the Government itself. Imbued with this spirit the new organisation would start with a careful review of all the productive work at present being done, would seek to bring it within the ambit of a carefuily considered plan without destroying tho litiative of independent organisations, and would consistently avoid centralisation until it became obvious to all concerned that centralisation had become necessary in the interests of efficiency and economy. And tiie centre, if centre there had to bo, for some important block of work would be the best csgitre for that particular work and by no means necessarily nor probably tho seat c/ Government. Thus would local interest be bust maintained and the influ-

euce of the scientific service felt throughout the Dominion.

These are the basic ideas that lie at rhe root of the proposals submitted in the following paragraphs THE PRIMARY INDUSTRIES. There is a wide-spread appreciation of the importance of science systematically applied to the primary industries, and manufacturers are concerned to show that they agree in the prior claims of these industries. This acknowledgment has been repeatedly made in conversations and speeches to which I have listened. The most cursory examination of the national balance sheet shows the dependence of the country’s purchasing power and consequently the prosperity of the secondary industries which are confined to home markets, upon a favourable balance of external trade. This balance is provided by the primary industries, and during a period of falling prices can only be secured by increased export. At the present moment, when pricej are sagging, the farmer is naturally anxious to use any means likely to help him to avoid losses in his crops or to increase the productivity of his land, his sheep, or his cattle. The problems and difficulties with which a young country is faced are so numerous the cost both in time and money of an adequate attack upon them so material, the supply of competent scientific workers so difficult to come by, that a wise policy must perforce establish an order of priority in the subject selected for investigation. All the problems may be important, and even urgent, but in scientific work nothing is moio wasteful and more likely to impair public confidence in its value than the attempt to cover a wider field than the available money and men can compass efficiently. On the other hand one problem successfully solved often leads systematically to the solving of others, and it always re-acts on others by drawing attention to tho methods which have made for success. It is better to postpone or abandon an investigation than to attempt it in conditions that place a number of loose ends unexplored though recognised as vital to a solution. As in military affairs, the width of the attack must be determined- by the strength of the forces at disposal. Moreover, tinkering not only induces lack of confidence; it leads in turn to spasmodic effort. Effective work in science is only possible when there is some assurance that plans can be carried through to tho end within the limits once laid down. The most serious difficulty in any plan for a systematic organisation of effort on behalf of the primary industries is the shortage of well-trained and competent workers. There is as yet no institution in the Dominion of university rank devoted to the training of leaders in these industries and to the prosecution of research, which is an essential part in the training for leadership. As the committee of the Auckland Institute well pointed out in a report on the co-ordination of science and industry issued in 1916, the worst trouble is to be found in the weakness of the educational provision. It was not within my order of reference to study the educational system of the Dominion, but the supply of competent investigators depends so entirely upon what is being done to produce them that I could not altogether neglect this aspect of the question. My impression, based on a visit to the Government Farm of Instruction at Ruakura, and to Lincol allege institutions, which represent two necessary types of agricultural school below that of a university, leads me to the conclusion that science, especially ou its practical and experimental side, receives even in these grades of institution less than its -due attention. At Ruakura there are no science laboratories, though there is instruction in science. At Lincoln, the laboratories are less well-found and maintained than is desirable, and with the'exception of the valuable work in wheatbreeding and grass selection, the standard and efficiency of the work in science seems to me to fall below that neecssary for young men, some of whom .are intending to become teachers of agriculture. PROPOSED NEW AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. The recent agreement between the colleges at Auckland and Wellington to pool their resources for agricultural education as the nucleus of a new national college of the first rank seems to me to be very hopeful. With a well-qualified staff on a scale generous enough to give them time tor original investigation, it will produce the men that are needed for the industry; for the special institutes that must gradually come into existence for the intensive study of its particular branches; and for the service of the Government itself. Ultimately it is likely to attract to itself other university studies in the interests both of the students and of economy, and so to become, as did the University of Wisconsin in America, and more recently the university colleges at Reading, in England, a full-fledged multifaculty university. A cite to be suitable should be easy of access from all parts of the island, adjacent to but not within the boundaries of a town of size sufficient to supply the necessary supplementary services, and on soil neither too good, for in that case the possibilities of experiment will be restricted, nor too poor, for alternatively it will be impossible to show results of wide application. Soil variety within moderate limits is to be desired. It is assumed that the agricultural college, if established, would be aided from the votes of the Department of Education like other university institutions, but I suggest that around it and in close intellectual co-operation v ith it. but distinct from it in management and finance, there should be established, as opportunity offers, a group of specialised institutes devoted to the study of particular branches of the industry and financed partly by funds contributed by the industry itself and partly from, the general funds provided by the Government for scientific research. Each institute should be managed by a committee on which men of science (selected by the central organisation!, the appropriate administrative department or department of Government, and the industry would be represented, and in this way the viewi and activities of each of these three groups wouK be brought under a single review and the necessary team work secured (each organisation represented should be required to table its plans). Experience at Home has shown that it is useless to direct departments or institutions to co-operate with each other, hut that if the scientific workers in each can be brought together round

a tabic w ith a common purpose the desired co-operation comes about. At present this spirit of co operation is absent, and I have found evidences of an unwillingness to consider it so long as the present separation of authorities exists. GEOLOGY AND METEROLOGY.

If a single scientific authority is desirable for the control of test work and investigation this is no less the case with the geological survey, which costs at present nearly £6OOO a year, the Meteorological Office, which costs nearly £SOOO a year, largely expended on telegrams, the Hector Observatory, at present under the Department of Internal Affairs, which costs about £I4OO a year, and the magnetic survey, under the Department of Lands and Survey, which costs about £IOOO a year.

There is at present no authority competent to review the programmes of work undertaken by these services or to judge of their relative claims upon the State for support. A properly constituted scientific organisation would be able to judge their claims with sympathy and discernment and be in a position to recommend expenditure on them comparable to their relative importance to the nation, within the means available for the scientific services as a whole. But, apart altogether from these administrative and financial considerations it is very important that a service like the geological survey upon the work of which the ruccessful mineral development of the country must ultimately depend, should be entirely removed from the administrative oi police duties of ordinary departments, for its findings must be beyond suspicion of any interests either regulative, political, or financial. It is no less important that the meteorological service should be brought into close touch with the need for scientific help in agriculture no less than is obviously the case with the marine, naval, military, and air services. It should serve all 'alike, and will best do so if it is attached specifically to none ot them, but is subject to the criticism and inspiration of competent scientific judgment. Even the magnetic survey and the astronomical obsen atorv will gamin usefulness and reality if their activities are brought into the common flow of scientific the light. -as they will be it placed under a scientific rather than a lay control.

SAMOAN SCIENTIFIC SERVICE. The foregoing remarks hold with equal torce in the ease of scientific work being done in Samoa under the Department of External Affairs. I have been unable to acquaint myself with this work at first hand, but I gather that it is a valuable service which has already established international relationships in meteorology. If only on this ground, it is important to link U P. the meteorological service of the Dominion; but there can be no doubt that a well-found scientific service in Samoa is likely to have results of profound economic and practical importance. The present cost of this service is nearly £2OOO a year, less recoveries estimated at £BOO a year. I recommend that the board supervising this service be transferred to the new scientific organisation. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH. I do not recommend the transfetence to the new authority of the scientific services of the Department of Agriculture- There are good reasons why a Department of Agriculture- should have on its staff scientific men ready and able to deal with problems bearing directly on matters for which the department is administratively responsible. Moreover, the ancient art and craft of agriculture stands so greatly in need under modern conditions of a scientific spirit in those who control it on behalf of the State, that it is most important for the administration to be kept constantly and intimately in contact with the scientific point of view, not only at headquarters but by its field officers. A scientifically-minded Department of Agriculture will both gain from, and give strength to the free activities of a university or endowed institution for research. But it must perforce adapt its own scientific activities to the administrative necessities of its work. It cannot cover the whole field even if it would. It should therefore work out its programme of research and investigation with the active help of its scientific officers in such a way as to contribute its share to the complete national scheme, in the way and along the lines most conformable to its directive and regulative responsibilities. My strong impression is that the department has among its scientific officers men of high capacity and great enthusiasm, who would gain much by being brought into a well-con 6idered plan of work in which all available institutions would take their part. But though the statement of the work being done in the department, or proposed to be done, covers a very wide field, I find it difficult to trace the evidence of a considered plan, and though the workers in its laboratories have many of them put forth a great deal of scientific work, much of it has been the result of personal effort in their spare time. Their official programme is to do the things “sent down by the office,” and for the rest the direction in which they work, the time in which it is done, and the means of publishing it seems largely a matter of hazard It is difficult in these circumstances to develop the team spirit or to create a scientific policy. Much of this would disappear if the control of the scientific services were entrusted to men of science, leaving matters of administrative policy, of finance, and of discipline to the trained administrator, who is best able to deal wi A ,h these things; and if the initiative in proposing -the programme of scientific as opposed to routine work were left to the scientific staff acting in committee. The prognmme would, of course, be subject to modification in the light of financial, administrative, or political necessity, of which the administrator is best able to judge, but the impact in scientific research needs to cc-me from men of «cience. ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC AUTHORITY. I recommended that the central scientific authority should bo a special department of the Government without any administrative authority, but with executive power in the conduct of scientific work for the State and for tho benefit of industry. It should not be attached to any of the administrative departments of the Government, but it should be ready to assist them all with’n its means and power. Its findings should find acceptance entirely on their merits, and for this reason it must be free from any suspicion that they are influenced or conditioned by the necessities of the regulative

or productive organs of the State or by political exigency. I am accordingly of the opinion that the new Department of Scientific and Industrial Research should be under the immediate supervision of the Prime Minister, who stands for the Government as a whole, and in times of peace is as much responsible for the systematic progress of the nation, which the new department is intended to promote, as he is for its defence in time of war. In scientific things the Prime Minister must, I suggest, seek the advice of men of science of independent mind and sound judgment, as in executive things he must be advised by trained administrators. The organisation here proposed seeksi to give expression to this differentiation of function.

AN ADVISORY COUNCIL. I recommend, accordingly, that the department should include a small advisory council of scientific men and men of affairs responsible for advising the Prime Minister on the programme and cost of work to be undertaken by the several establishments attached to the department, and on the grants to be made to individuals, or to outside bodies—e.g., research associations or co-operative laboratories for the finance of which the department is not responsible. The council should also be entrusted with the appointment of persons, whether officials or otherwise, to the committees. in scientific supervision of its own establishments. But officials of the Government should not be members of the council itself, which would be appointed by the Prime Minister after consultation with the National Research Council if and when this body is established, and until this happens, with the governing body of the New Zealand Institute. Much will depend on the selection of the right man as chairman of the council. He should be a man wise in council, wide in outlook, with an interest in scientific things, a sense of proportion, and a capacity for getting men to pull together. He will not have any executive duties, but lie will play an important role in framing policy for the Prime Minister’s consideration. The ordinary meetings of the council should be held monthly, except during the usual recesses. It is suggested that the chairman and first members of the council should be appointed for a period of four years, and that thereafter the members should retire according to a rota. The number of the council in the first instance should not exceed six. The powers and duties of the council should be:—

1. To consider and report to the Prime Minister upon the scientific aspects of all proposals made to the department for the encouragement of scientific research or the organisation of industrial research from whatever source they may arise; and to initiate such proposals themselves if they think fit.

2. To submit annually to the Prime Minister a programme of the work, with estimates of cost, for each of the scientific establishments under the control of the department, together with detailed estimates of all moneys proposed to he expended by the department in grants to individuals or to outside bodies.

3. The council should also have the Dower of tendering advice to the Prime Minister on the scientific aspects of any proposals made by other departments affecting the scientific or industrial interests of the people. 4. The council may appoirtt such committees as they think fit. In order that the council may be in the position to review the activities and expenditure of the department on scientific work before submitting the annual programme and estimates to the ,Prime Minister, the several committees of supervision for the laboratories, services, and institutes under the administration of the department should be required to submit annual programmes of work, together with estimates of cost, for the consideration of the council.

In order that t.he council may be made aware of the policy of other departments in scientific matters, and that those departments may know the proposals of the council and consult with them so as to secure unity of purpose and action,' I recommend that the several departments of State concerned in any aspect of scientific work should nominate tneir chief administrative officer to act as assessor at the ordinary meetings of the council. An assessor should receive the agenda paper and minutes of all ordinary meetings of the council and should have power to attend and take part in the proceedings of the council, but not to vote. THE EXECUTIVE. The financial and executive powers of the department should be in the hands of a permanent secretary with the- necessary subordinate staff. The secretary of the department should, also fce the secretary to the Advisory Council and act as the liaison officer between that body and the Prime Minister. It i 9 essential that he should be u man of high administrative capacity and experience, and if he also has scientific qualifications so much the better. But administrative powers are the first necessity. As he will necessarily furnish the driving force for a new and difficult undertaking, he should also be * man in the prime of life, and since the success of the new department with largely depend upon the degree to which it can secure the sympathy und co-operation of other departments, ho should be well endowed with judgment and tact. His status in the service and his remuneration should be comparable with those of other heads of departments. The secretarial staff of the department would he used among other purposes for supplying secretaries to the various supervisory committees to he appointed under the department and for taking the necessary executive action. The executive staff of any laboratories, services, or institutes of the department established or transferred under the scheme outlined above would be officers of the department for the purpose.

FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT. The functions of the department should be defined, I suggest, in broad terms which might be further defined, as necessity arises, by Order-in-Couneil. The following definition is suggested:— 1. To encourage scientific research and to organise its application to the primary and secondary industries. | 2. To maintain and administer:—(a) Thu , geological survey, (b) the magnetic sun vey, (c) the meteorological office, (d) the Hector Observatory, (e) the Samoan scientific service, (f) a laboratory for standards and tests to Include the present Dominion Laboratory (Governments Analyst's Department), the Laboratory

the Fublic Works Department and Main Highways Board, the testing laboratories of the Railways Department, and such local provision for similar work as may be thought desirable, (g) Such other State laboratories as may hereafter be transferred to it. (h) Such special institutes as may hereafter be established by Government for research or for the application of science to the primary or secondary industries. (3) To advise Government on scientific policy. (4) To hold and administer land and other property (whether under trust or not) for the promotion of scientific or industrial research. FINANCE. It is very difficult to form an estimate of the cost of the proposed department to the Exchequer. If it is successful and wins the confidence of the people its expenditure will undoubtedly grow, and the growth will be justified. At first, however, its work will largely consist in the review and co-ordination of already existing expenditure on the State laboratories and services enumerated in (2), a to f, above, and in making careful plans for the developments recommended in this report. In its first year of existence the cost to the State additional to the expenditure already sanctioned should not, I think, exceed £7OOO. exclusive of office accommodation, furniture, stationery, routine printing, and the like. As its plans develop, however, with the sanction of the Government, the expenditure is certain to expand, though a large part of the increase will bring with it corresponding contributions from the industries concerned.

MISCELLANEOUS RECOMMENDATIONS. RECORDS SECTION. The central authority I recommend shculu be' established, will itself be responsible for the collection of a wide range of scientific papers and reports by the various establishments and organisations under its •egis. These papers and reports should include those prepared by scientific workers employed by co-operative bodies aided bj the central authority, whether like that at Hawtiia, they are connected with a primary industry or with a secondary industry. It should be a condition of all grants in aid of a research organisation that all results are sent at once to the central authority A small section of the headquarters office should be devoted to the collation and abstracting of these results, and in so far as they are not confidential to a particular industry or group of manufacturers, the results should be circulated at regular intervals not only to the research bodies connected with the depaitment, but to the corresponding central authorities at Home and in other dominions, in the same way as monthly abstracts from my department are sent to the Dominion. A SCIENCE LIBRARY. A really representative library of scientific literature centrally placed would be of the greatest value to science, but the cani tal cost of bringing it into existence rapidly and supplying the necessary housing would be very great indeed, especially if it was to bo additional to existing libraries in Wellington. It is much to be hoped tha: all the present scientific books and pamphlets in the different libraries in the capital, both those in Government and those in oiher institutions, may ultimately be housed under a single roof and arranged in such a way as to make them the nucleus of such a library as the committee desired to see. But there are many difficulties to be overcome before such a plan could be put into effect, and in the meantime some improvement on the present . unsatisfactory condition is urgently called for. I recommend that it be the duty of the new central scientific authority to prepare and publish a catalogue of all scientific books, pamphlets, and journals in the public and, so far as possible, in the private libraries of the Dominion with an indication of where copies of each publication are to bo found and the number of copies available. Each library should agree to lend copies on suitable conditions to serious workers wherever they are working. The central authority should itself make ’ good any gaps of importance in the combined list and keep these supplementary copies in their own charge for loan or consultation. Books or journals for which there is considerable demand (other than text-books), the supply of which is inadequate in existing libraries, should also bo added to the central store. Tn this way a complete scientific lending library might be brought into existence it the minimum of cost, though with the inevitable delay in availability due to its dispersal throughout the Dominion. But delay is less serious than denial. NATIONAL RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS.

What has already been said of the ■erious shortage of qualified research jprprkera in the Dominion makes it qeces-

sary that the new central authority should place the provision for the training of promising young persons- in scientific research and the encouragement of research by existing investigators in the forefront of their programme. It they cb not, it is certain that competent workers will not be iortkeoming for the various scientific institutes and co-opera-tive urnlei takings which it will be the duty of the new authority to promote. Young men and women of the requisite ability will undoubtedly be forthcoming to undertake the necessary training, if once it is realised that there will be openings for them afterwards. Accordingly L recommend that the funds at present ax for the granting of national research scholarships be transferred to new authority, and that together with some additional money it be expended in maintenance grants to promising young workers in science. The awards should be made by the authority itself on the recommendation of the student's professor, and should be sufficient, together with any assistance he can obtain from his college or other local sources, hut not more than sufficient, to meet his expenses for a period of two years. The authoi ity should be empowered to make the grant conditional on the student going elsewhere, whether in the Dominion or beyond it, if such a course is thought to be necessary. But one of the objects of the grants should L? to help professors of original powers gradually to build up a a school of research. Students in receipt of grants should be encouraged to do a strictly limited amount of teaching in the laboratories of the college—but not more than six hours a week—not in the interests of the college so much as in the interest of the student in training himself. Means should also be provided to enable the central authority to make grants to professors and others engaged in research work of value, to be expended on the payment of research assistants or the purchase of special and expensive apparatus. The cost of these two services should not exceed £2OOO a year for some years f o come, part of which is already covered by the present expenditure on national research scholarships. THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE. I recommend .hat the present grant to the New Zealand Institute be continued; that it be assisted ti pay off its heavy overdraft to the Government Printer; and that thereafter it be required to make its own arrangement for printing. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUN L. If the encouragement of scientific research and the organisation of industrial research is to become a declared function of the Government as recommended in this report, it a»»oer.rs to me to be of great importance that the men of science in- the Dominion should be encouraged to organise themselves on a completely unofficial basis. Such an unofficial body of the best scientific opinion, if fully renresentative of all branches of science (including medicine and engineering). would be a most valuable support to the Government in influencing public opinion and by offering Triendly criticism and suggestions to the Government on its official policy. The best of departments is the healthier and hotter for instructed outside criti cism, while occasions may well arise—re.g.. the selection of representatives of the Do minion at important international science congresses—when the. Government would be glad to seek the advice of an independ ent body other than itself. The New Zealand Institute has many, but not all the qualifications needed in a body of this kind. It is specially strong on the biological side, in geology, and chemistry, but it is not representative of engineering nor of medical science, and I understand that the astronomers have recently formed a society of their own. Moreover, the board of governors is in large part elected on a popular basis by local institutes in a manner that gives no assurance of a suitable balance of the sciences in the governing body, while two are official members, and a further four of its members are appointed by the Government. It is an old and distinguished foundation which is obviously doing most valuable work, and it would be doubtfully wise to suggest any change in its constitution. But it' might xvcll be invited by the Government to take a leading part in bringing a body into existence which would he truly representative of the beet men the'Dominion has in all branches of science. Such a body, if elected bv the leading representatives in each field of work, would become the National Research Council for New Zealand. It would become affiliated to the International Research Council like the National Research Council of Australia. The Dominion would take her proper place in the international world of science, and her council would exercise naturally and inevitably the valuable functions referred to at the

beginning of this paragraph. On this council the fellows of the institute would certainly hold an important place. As I understand that the rate of subscription by National Research Councils to the International Council is based upon a minimum population of 5,000.000, 1 suggest that the Government might suit .ably make a grant-in-aid to the National Research Council, Jf aud when established, towards the cost involved. SCIENTIFIC LIAISON OFFICER Finally I recommended that a well qualified scientific mart of ivide interests should a^t ‘? c^let * 10 the High Commissioner s Office in London to act as a liaison between the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the new depaii ment in the Dominion. 1 believe a trained rnan of science who would in time become acquainted with the principal centres foi scientific work at Home ami would have a general first-hand knowledge of what was going on, and could not fail to be of great assistance to the High Commissioner and to the Dominion Government in dealing with many of the offers and proposals ma<ie by the people with schemes to push. He would also be able to help, no doubt, in connection with the business of tile Imperial Institute, of which the High Commissioner is an ex-officio governor, and with the business of the Committee of Uivil Research of the British Cabinet, of which the High Commissioner will also be a member, when it is dealing with matters affecting the Dominion. The officer would further. I suggest, he of service as an adviser to young men of science whom the Dominion Government may attach to one or other of the research establishments of the Home Government.

LINKING-UP OF SCIENCE.

CO-OPERATION AND CO-ORDINATION. COMMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. In dealing with the report by Sir Frank Heath on the organisation of scientific and industrial research in New Zealand, the Right Hon. the Prime Minister stated that it was generally recognised that feelin* has increasingly grown during the ast feA years amongst progressive farmers and industrialists and others that the time had arrived for a better linking-up of science with our national industries, primary and secondary. It had also been recognised by Gov erurnent that need existed for a enl-ai authority* to exercise control and to overlook the research work carried on by Government departments; to suggest means for co-operation arid co-ordination of the research work carried out by university colleges, oilier institutes, and private workers; to prevent overlapping, and to advise Government in the subsidising or endowment of research bv grants, etc Tile only agency undertaking ny part of h.s work, oiher than research grants, at. pre sent is the Board of Science and Art. but that body, appoints! primarily to control the Dominion Museum and Art GalLry. i: obviously not the most suitable bndv to function as a new department The difficulty which presented itself to Government, however, was to arrive at some practnal method of reaching the objective. With this aim in view, a committee of Scientific and Industrial Research, consisting of certain heads of Government departments and representatives of the industrial associations (presided over by Dr Marsden. Assistant Director of Education), was formed early last year.

While certain conclusions were arrived at. no definite programme was formulated by the committee, the matter being held in abeyance pending visits to the Dominion bv Sir Ernest Rutherford and Sir Frank Heath. Sir Frank Heath is head of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in England, a department specially created during the early stages of the war, primarily to meet the national difficulties aria ing from the shortage of essential supplies previously secured from foreign sources. On the cessation of hostilities it was realised that great good would result in the work of reconstruction if the functions of the department were enlarged the success which had been obtained revealing more and more the necessity for the continued and systematic encouragement and organisation of scientific research in every phase of national life.

Sir Frank Hcn(h had been invited by the Commonwealth Government to inquire into the possibility of closer co-operation between, his department and similar organisations in Australia, and into the prosecution of scientific research as it affected industry. Government felt that opportunity should be taken of the visit of Sir Frank to Australia to ask the Home authorities to be good enough to allow him to extend his ▼hut to New Zealand, if only for a short time, so that we might have the advantage

of his wide organising experience and knowledge.

Considering the short time spent in New Zealand by Sir Frank, the report is of great value, enunciating as it does broad principles foi the foundation of a farsighted policy it. the matter of research. 'The report has been carefully considered by Government, and immediate steps will be taken to give general effect to the recommendations which have been made, though in certain matters it will be necessary to obtain legislative sanction. THE NEW ORGANISATION. The new organisation will be constituted on -lines suggested by Sir Frank Heath, and bused largely on that followed in Eng land in connection wirh the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The new department will be entrusted with the better organisation of present Government scientific activities; it will aim at ensuring greater co operation be tween existing scien tific institutions with industries whose problems await solution, and also at co-ordinat-ing our activities with other units of the Empire in the solution of problems of common interest.

It is not to be expected that the creation of this new department will be a short cut to the millennium; nor, as Sir Frank Heath says, can extensive immediate results be looked for. In the first place, our supply of research workers fully competent ti undertake immediately the problems awaiting solution is insufficient. and in the second place it is essential that there must be fostered a healthy spirit of co-operation amongst all concerned. As has been said, the men of science, men of business, work in? men. professional and scientific societies, universities and colleges, local authorities and Government departments —all must be got together. “Team work" is necessary to deal with the varied problems which arise, and which are too manifold and too complicated to be dealt with by individual firms, associations, or Government departments. Sir Frank Heath’s report sets out the organisation for dealing with the problem/ and I think w r e can -anticipate with good reason that our hopes will be fully justified by results, and that scientific research in this country will be placed on a sound educational and financial basis. A LONG-SIGHTED POLICY.

A long-sighted policy is the precedent and first essential to success. I propose, therefore, that the new department will undertake as its first duty a careful review' of the research work at present being carried out in the universities and other research laboratories. It is essential for future progress that steps he taken to promote a full and regular interchange of information between the various research institutes on the methods and results of their experimental work; it will lead to concentration and economy of effort, and also of expenditure. The corner-stone of the whole structure of the new organisation is research —organised research—and l am sure Government will have the whole-hearted support of the community in lioping that this stone will be well anil truly laid.

Government is concerned with the wellbeing of the people, and the position immediately facing u is to ensure that they should be enabled not only to exist but to prosper. Our well-being is largely dependent on the export and satisfactory disposal of our primary products. The secondary industries must not be overlooked; their operations are, however, largely confined to our internal market. Our efforts must in the main be directed to increasing the quantity and improving the quality of our primary products. This problem, however, will not be near solution until producers generally recognise scientific research as essentially part and parcel of their organisation. NEW AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

There is one particular matter to which special attention is drawn by Sir Frank Heath—viz., the creation of the new Agricultural College. The details in connection with the establishment of the college are practically finalised; and in connection with the establishment of the college the question arises as to the relation of the college to research. I intend to refer at present to one particular phase only—viz., that of the dairy industry. Goverument fully recognises that, while very marked progress has been made in dairying on the instructional side, less has been attempted on the scientific side than in the case of other industries. Government has had under consideration the constitution of a special branch of the Department of Agriculture dealing solely w ith problems affecting the dairy industry. The proposal under considerat; in was to establish a special laboratory and staff at Wallacoville, where the research in dairying would bo carried out in 'ionjunction with the other activities of the department.

I am, however, convinced that the proposal of Sir Frank that this special work should be attached to the Central Agricultural College is the correct one, and immediate steps will be taken to give full effect to his recommendation FUEL RESOURCES. One other matter referred to by Sir Frank Heath is that of a scientific study of ouc fuel resources both in relation to produc tion and consumption. This matter was recently the subject of investigation ny a special committee, which dealt mora particularly with the- possibility of extending the uses of our coal supply bv the railway authorities. I am convinced that further special attention will need to bw directed to the use of our fuel supp.y to die best advantage, the proper application gf our various kinds of fuel to .heir appropriate purpose, and generally die adoption of the most economical and efficient means for the use of our fuel ,n industry. 'llie matter has already received the attention of the director of the Dominion laboratory and of the Mines Departand a highly qualified officer of 19 staff of the Dominion laboratory has beeri detailed to make investigations while visiting the United Stales and England This matter is one of such great importance, as 1 am advised our present facilities for research are sufficient immediately to attack this problem, I propose to arrango that it shall receive the immediate attention of the new department. SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

In so far as our secondary industries are concerned, while I fully recognise that there are certain matters in which scientifio and industrial research is required 'i feel that the problem to be tackled in this Dominion is one more of investigation and adoption of improved processes and maehi 19 Inetnods, lay-out, lighting, etc., rather tliaa an expensive and extensive campaign m the matter of scientific research. The main requirements are instruction and advice on technical matters of general importance, and the dissemination to manufacturers arid others of technical • information from overseas.

In so far as there is a need for scientifio research in the secondary industries, I consider that this can best be provided for by an extension of existing facilities. Provision will also require to be made for the testing of raw materials and products ia various stages of manufacture. Encouragement arid assistance will be given for tho organisation of research associations in various trades aud industries* . TECHNICAL FIELD OFFICERS. Sir Frank suggest* the appointment of technical field officer? attached to the Department of Industries and Commerce, and I feel sure great benefit would result from the appointment of the “right man," not merely to keep the department advised as to difficulties experienced, but rather to keep manufacture.? fully advised of tho latest improved processes and, where ne :es«»ry. to instruct and advise them on modem factory organisation and practices The co ordination under central authority of the various scientific activities conducted bv the Government will be given effect to as early ns possible. CO-OPERATION OF UNIVERSITIES. I look forward with confidence to the assistance and full co-operation of the universities, since it is to the universities that the country must primarily look for its scientific workers. Scientific research is & slow, long process, and a steady policy ia far more Important than an ambitious one. I cannot promise large grants for research, in the immediate future. I am convinced, however, that, from the viewpoint of tiia State, the expenditure of the public funds in the supervision and encouragement of scientific research, particularly in' its relation to primarv industries, mti?t prove an extremely profitable investment. As stated previously, the idea is to develop a policy, and having due rrgard to the relative urgency of the problem's requiring solution to do “first thing? first." to oieote a spirit of co-operation between farmers, industrialiris, scientists, and others which will ho helpful to all by increasing production and preventing waste.