SCIENCE IN INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1926, Page 15

SCIENCE IN INDUSTRY

THE METHODS OF AUSTRALIA LESSONS FOR NEW ZELAND. IMPORTANT RESULTS GAINED. , Wellington, Dee. 6. Having spent several weeks in Australia, Dr. E. Marsden, permanent secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, returned to Wellington to-day. The object of his visit to the Commonwealth was to obtain first-hand knowledge of the working of the Australian Research Council. “We have a lot to learn from Ausialia,” said Dr. Marsden. “They have thoroughly keen and alert minds on the job and are getting right down to tin tacks. They have made good and receive great support and encouragement on all sides. Of a Government grant of £lOO,OOO vested in the name of the executive, 80 per cent, of the interest is expended in the training of research students and an expenditure of £250,000 during each of four years has been authorised in order to carry on research work which will benefit primary and secondary industries.” Dr. Marsden is very optimistic about the results of his visit. Inter-communi-cation between the two departments will result in co-operation and avoid any overlapping of effort along fundamental lines, and when the department in Nery Zealand has had time to become thoroughly established it, too, will make good and be able to confer untold blessings upon the industries of the country. One of the difficulties that the Australian Council has to contend with is the finding of suitable men for ttie work. The supply is insufficient. Posts are advertised carrying salaries of £l2OO a year, but men really trained for the work cannot be obtained. To overcome this difficulty in Victoria the Government making provision fof the thorough training of suitable boys. All their scholastic expenses are paid and, when they are fully trained as research workers, posts are guaranteed them. The State of New South Wales adopts a similar policy and there is “quite a stampede,” as Dr. Marsden puts it, to get hold of these trained workers. Among the interesting features of industrial research noted by Dr. Marsden was that done in the direction of the eradication of prickly pear, one of Australia’s greatest pests. "The problem,” said Dr. Marsden, “is practically solved by means of parasites. So keen are the farmers that they are stealing the bugs from each other until the supply is sufficient for the demand.” Banana disease in Queensland is another thing which the council has successfully tackled. Experiments tn wheatgrowing to give a Larger yield an.! also to eradicate rust .were also invest!-

gated by Dr. Marsden, as were also numerous other phases of industrial and scientific research. He was much interested in the work done in connection with forestry. The chemical and mechanical wood-pulping experiments were very suggestive as to possibilities in New Zealand. The pulp made from some New Zealand flax he describes as the best he has ever seen. By using the mechanical method the whiteness is maintained and then, when mixed with other fibres, an excellent paper results. This method, put into, practical operation in New Zealand, would mean a great deal to the flax industry and to the country s prosperity in general. The question of an agricultural college was inquired into and Dr. Marsden found opinion unanimous and emphatic that education in agricultural matters must start at the top and be the very best obtainable. Men trained in the country were essential. The very best training was needed, and there w-ould be full use for every man adequately trained at Hawkesbury College in New South Wales. Dr. Marsden was pleasea to find five Maoris from To Aute (Hawke’s Bay). Dr. Marsden will be .making a full report of his investigations to the Department of Scientific and Industries Research, and when the board next meets on December lo an outline of tl-e policy to be adopted will bed riwn np.