BIG ECONOMIC TASKS

Southland Times, Issue 20010, 26 October 1926, Page 7

BIG ECONOMIC TASKS

PROBLEMS IN AUSTRALIA. WORK OF RESEARCH COUNCIL. AIDING RURAL INDUSTRY. Sydney, October 14. Great expectations are placed on the work of the recently-reconstituted Council of Industrial and Scientific Research, a reconstitution from the former Institute of Science and Industry that came about mainly through the recomm enations of Sir Frank Heath, secretary of the British Department of Scientific Research, who last year visited New Zealand as well as Aus(ralia. Professor Rivett, one of the members of the new council, made the object* of the council plain in a recent address to Melbourne University students. Professor Rivett said that it was to primary industries that the council must first turn its attention, because farmers’ problems were enormous national problems, too great for individual farmers to solve. Large firms might succeed in dealing with their own troubles, which, therefore, were less pressing. Much good work had been done in the past, but it had not been sufficiently concerted or far-reaching. The problems facing the new council were divided under five headings--animal pests and diseases, plant pests and diseases, forest products, fuel, and food preservation. With regard to the first, there were places where veterinary work of high order could be done, and this trouble must be remedied. Research workers had previously been appointed to investigate diseasnfl* but it had been too easy to overlook the poor quality of the meat, for our best was considerably inferior to that produced m Argentina—• eugenics and fodder must be studied also. PLANT PESTS AND DISEASES. All this work, continued Professor Rivett, would not show results for a long time. Tasmania needed the attention of the council at once, for the average production was considerably too low, and the country was heading towards bankruptcy. Some work had been done in the investigation of plant peste ami diseases, and the most pressing side of the question was the problem of irrigation settlements. A committee of three had been appointed by the council to study its various aspects, but he considered that the real solution lay in the intelligence of growers. Other questions under consideration were insects, fungus diseaspr, manure ami water. On the subject of forest products, Professor Rivett said that not more than 15 per cent, of the trees cut down in Australia were used, causing great loss. This was especially the case with the karri forests of Western Australia. To prevent this waste, it was hoped to make power alcohol from the cut trees. This was our main fuel problem, for wr could work with other nations in the distilling of coal, which would be very expensive otherwise. This would not be difficult, as our coal was similar to that of other countries. An expert was coming out from England next February to consider the question of the packing of fruit and its treatment in the holds of ships, while the council was also turning its attention to the use of boric acid in butter as a preservative. Australia’s main difficulty was lack of workers, but he hoped that by a policy of immigration this would correct itself in time. MANY PROBLEMS BEING ATTACKED. Tife outline of proposals gives an idea of how earnestly Australia is attacking the problems before it with the aid of science. On every hand it is seen. Barely a day passes but one picks up a newspaper giving particulars of experiments and scientific investigation to make this country still more bountiful in the resources with which

nature has endowed it. Of course, the work means a considerable drain on the revenue of Federal and State Governments, but the outlay will be recouped with fine interest, if n6t in this generation, then in the next.