SCIENCE AND V7OOL INDUSTRY

Otago Witness, Issue 3972, 29 April 1930, Page 25

SCIENCE AND V7OOL INDUSTRY

ADVOCATE OF RESEARCH.

LORD BIRKENHEAD’S REMARKS LONDON. March 6.

Addressing the members of the British Research Association, at Bradford, yesterday, the Earl of Birkenhead strongly advocated the adoption by industry of a policy of scientific research and industrial development. He would be extremely sorry if it were supposed that he was attempting to give advice to men who had spent their lives in the wool industry, for there was not the slightest suggestion that purely technical skill was less to-day than it was 50 or 70 years ago. Lord Birkenhead asked, however, whether, in view of the admittedly changed conditions. The methods by which that and ether businesses had been carried on were tiie most happily and fruitfully selected to equip them to meet competition far more strenuous than that which faced their fathers. “If it were true?’ he continued, “ as it unquestionably was, that in this country at least we must be prepared to assign cheerfully a larger share to labour in some way or another, we must increase our competitive values in the world in order to act as a counterpoise to the obvious disadvantage suffered from the fact that, labour in this country was more highly paid than labour in some of the competitive countries.” His claim to speak on this subject was the opportunity afforded him in the last year or so to make a close study of the methods of that amazing association, Imperial Chemicals, Ltd. At an earlier period than any other great industrial association in England it realised the possibilities of scientific organisation upon a large scale and of the employment of research, even at great cost, to reinforce the experience of very gifted men. The result was that that organisation had thrown its roots into international soil in which competition only 15 years ago would seem to have been denied, under existing fiscal conditions, to British enterprise. It was in such development alone that a great industry could be sustained against the world difficulties now being confronted. CAPACITY OF ORGANISED SCIENCE.

“As to research your function may easily become, if it has not already become, comparable to that discharged by Imperial Chemicals. The commercial prosperity of Australia depends very largely upon sheep. In South Africa only gold and precious stones compete with the wool industry. It is almost equally important in NewZealand. Your processes are interested in wool from the time it grows on the back of the new-born lambs until it leaves your looms in a Bradford mill. Do not tell me that modern chemistry, scientifically organised, is not capable when harnessed to your business of enriching your knowledge and increasing your efficiency.”

Referring to the benefit of labour. Lord Birkenhead said that those trades here and in other countries which had taken the intelligent and the less acutely political trade unionist into their confidence had, on the whole, met with the best return.

He had a deep and burning conviction that with the spirit of optimism, tenacity, inherited obstinacy, and ability of Yorkshiremen'* their trade could recover world supremacy. That would not happen if they relied on obsolete methods, but it could be brought about by relying on the policy that had been tried in this country by Imperial Chemicals, and which had met with brilliant success in that country so impatient for new ideas, the United States of America.