SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16773, 4 July 1925, Page 14

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

SECOND EDITION.

PARLIAMENT KEENLY CONCERNED. (Special l« the Herald.l WELLINGTON, this clay. What started as a Parliamentary joke developed into a serious discussion of the necessity of encouragement of scientific research. When the Minister of Internal Affairs tabled in the House of Representatives the “Transactions of the Now Zealand Institute, ” he made no comment on the bulky volume, but Mr. Holland immediately asked Mr. Bollard to explain what was in it. He assured a smiling House that he was quite serious, and his demand was backed' by Mr. Grazer, who suggested it was not often that the House had an opportunity of getting from a Minister an outline of scientific development and research in I lie Dominion. He was quite sure the Minister would make it immensely interesting. (Laughter.) Mr. Sidey, who took up the matter Seriously, declared that New Zealand had not shown itself very much alive to the great importance of scientific investigatiOH. - "-''The subject had come before Parliament time and time again, and had been referred to by committees and commissions, but nothing tangible had resulted. The discussion took an unexpectedly brisk turn, many members following up the serious opinion given by Mr. Sidey. They urged that more attention be paid to research in connection with the dairy industry and farming problems, including blackberry and noxious weeds and rabbits. The Minister of Education, Sir J. Parr, came into the discussion. He had, ho said, been struck with the necessity of setting up a board in New Zealand with the object of undertaking the work of research. Attempts had been made to set up a board of control in the past, and ho thought that those attempts should be revived. He considered university professors should be encouraged to do more in the way of research, work, as they had men in New Zealand who would compare very favorably with the best men of other countries. The trouble was that, the professors were baton up too much with the hack work of teaching. Every year the Education Department gave a very line scholarship, to enable young students who had a penchant for research work to devote a certain amount of their time in that direction. The Minister detailed what the Government was doing, but remarked that a lot more could be done. The Government was spending a lot of money, but it was possible that the money would bo expended to' better advantage if a central board of control were set up. The Now Zealand Institute itself received a vote of £2OOO, so, that Ihov might give their attention to research. The Minister stated that in the new High Schools more attention was being given to scientific and agricultural education. The result had been that about 50 per cent, of the students took the agricultural course instead of matriculation.

Mr. Bollard concluded a long discussion by declaring his extreme pleasure at the unexpected interest taken by ihembers in scientific research, because the last time he presented the Transactions nobody said a word. (Laughter.) The paper cost £.1770 to print:,* and there were about a thousand members of the Institute who received it. He did not notice any names of members of Parliament in the list, but if they would all guarantee to read it, he would see that they got copies. „ Mr. Fraser: They should pass an examination jn it next session. Mr. Parry: If they are here.

Mr. Bylin ill naively explained, in reply In earnest demands that he .should summarise (lie information in the Transactions, that they covered liofanv, anthropology, geology, and mi S(! cllait eons, but time would not permit him to make 'any summary. \ (Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON, last, night. Mr. tSidev strongly urged the Minister to say what he proposed to do in the matter of systematising scientific industrial research' in New Zealand. There had been many requests for this, but nothing had been done. We had the Cawthron Institute at Nelson, and each of the University Colleges had good scientific laboratories, which might be utilised,'' but the. professors were bound dovy'h to the drudgery of teaching, aful had little opportunity for research. (Scientific research should be encouraged, but in order to prevent duplication of effort, the whole position should be systematised. Mr. Atmorc said the work of the Cawthron Institute had last year saved the fruitgrowers £IO,OOO by the introduction of the natural enemy of the woolly aphis, saving the great cost of spraying the trees. Mr. Veitch maintained that, oven if scientific research did not enable us to increase the volume of our wool clip, it might lead to improving its quality and so increasing the price. Mr. Hawked commended the application of scientific research in connection with.tho dairying am} flax industries as a means of improving them. ‘ i Mr. Forbes suggested that, to give scientific papers greater publicity, they should be reprinted in the Government technical journals. Agricultural papers might be reprinted in the Agricultural Journal, mining papers in the Mining Journal, and so on. In that way many people would see them that do not now. Sir James Parr said it was a mistake to suppose that the Department, of Education was doing nothing to encourage scientific research, but ho 1 agreed there wns need of some Board’ to co-ordinate tlic work that was being, done. In his opinion, the Universityj professors were the proper men to do research work. They should give less time to the actual work of teaching and more time to research work. Ho was not aide to find all the money required out of his Education vote, but if the Internal Affairs Department would find some of it much more could be done than was being done, which would be of practical value to our people. Mr. Lvsnnr urged some comprehensive system of scientific analysis of New Zealand soils. Mr. McPherson said it was useless farmers putting in crops at great labor and expense if these crops were to bo destroyed by pests as fast, as they grew. Great ravages were sometimes worked in grain crops and potato crops, and in all such eases it was a matter of serious concern to the Dominion, since the failure of crop might make us dependendent on some outside source of supply. He thought wo were not, now getting value for the money we were spending. He advocated a Scientific Board to take the co-ordination in hand. The Hon. W, Nostvorthy said Tho

trouble was that the war left them with heavy financial liabilities and it was impossible to find money for everything that. Ministers would like to see pushed on. Scientific research ■was probably one of the matters that had to wait, but now that the pinch was over the Government was not losing' sight of it. They were constantly helping various phases of research, and when more money was available more would be done.

Tlio Hon. 11. .T. Bollard, in reply, said lie was glad to see that the House was, faking an interest in scientific research, and in the "Transactions of New A great deal of money; was being spoilt, and a great deal of work was being done, but the trouble was that people took no interest in the subject. The printing of these Transactions cost £177(1, and copies were sent all over the world. If, members would give him a guarantee they would read and study it he would present them with a copy. The' remainder of the sitting was occupied with the presentation -of other reports and the House adjourned till 7..10.