GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 15041, 16 October 1919, Page 3

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

IMPORTANT WORK WAITING

Tlie extension of the operations of the Geological Survey. Department was urged in the House of Representatives by the Hon, W. D. S. MacDonald. The survey of New Zealand, had been very much neglected of late, said Mr. MacDonald. The Department ought to be strong enough to undertake the search for minerals and road metal in many parts of the country. The settlers needed the help that the Department could give thein. They needed supplies of lime and other natural manures and they needed information regarding the composition of soils. He hoped the Minister would consider the advisability of establishing a Geological Department independent of the Mines Department. Mr. MacDonald added that the Government must be prepared to pay .higher salaries to the experts of the Geological Department. The present salaries were far too low in view of the expert knowledge required) and of the importance of the duties to be performed. He hod done his best to improve the salaries during his term of office, but it appeared that nothing could be done until the Department was taken out of the hands of the Public Service Commissioners. There was no more important Department in the country, and expert knowledge was at the disposal of the country provided adequate salaries were given. . The Minister of Mines (Sir William Fraser) stated he was thoroughly in sympathy with what Mr. MacDonald liad said. The geological survey of the Dominion ought to be completed as quickly as possible. The difficulty in the past had been to get the right men and then to pay them adequately. Highly-trained geological experts could not be expected to work for the Government for low salaries. The House must recognise that fact. Tf New Zealand wanted brains in the national service it must pay for them. The best brains were the cheapest in the long run.