The Daily News FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1928. A SCIENTIST'S VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1928, Page 6

The Daily News FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1928. A SCIENTIST'S VISIT.

The visit of Dr. A. W. Hill, director of Kew Gardens, the most renowned botanical institution in the Empire, to New Zealand is of more than passing interest. Coming as he does, under the auspices of the Empire Marketing Board, his investigations will go further than a scientist’s observation of New Zealand flora in its native habitat. His visit is, indeed, another instance of the linking of scientific zeal with practical purposes. Originally part of the grounds of a Royal palace, Kew Gardens owe a great deal of their subsequent renown to the first director, Sir Joseph Banks, who, as botanist, accompanied Captain Cook in his first visit to New Zealand and Australia. He it was who began at Kew the systematic introduction of exotic plants. The development of this policy has been continuous, until to-day Kew Gardens contain the world’s most valuable collection of plants, and form the observation ground for students from all parts of the earth. Since Sir Joseph Bank’s time the directors of the gardens have formed a line of noted botanists, of whom the present occupant is a worthy successor. The value of Kew to the Empire is only beginning to be understood. It is much more than that of a collection that is at once unique, inspiring and impressive. It was at Kew that the first rubber plants were grown from seed obtained at great peril from South America, and from Kew was sent the nucleus of a new industry in the tropical lands of the Empire, an industry the full value of which it is even now impossible to envisage. Rubber growing has raised the Malay States from poverty to affluence; it has given Great Britain the command of the supply of a commodity foi’ which there is an ever increasing demand; and it is bringing to other tropical dependencies the same beneficent result as it gave to Malay. By the introduction of the cinchona plant to India supplies of quinine were made available that have had their share, more particularly in the past perhaps, in making possible the rule of the white man in some of the feverstricken districts of that great dependency. It was Sir Joseph Banks who left for posterity the first authentic notes on New Zealand vegetation, and in his report there will be found the delight of the botanist at finding himself amidst abundant plant Life in a strange country, yet with some shrewd observations as to the commercial value of some of the specimens he had been shown. Many years later it fell to the lot of Sir Joseph’s successors at Kew to investigate and report upon the peculiarities of New Zealand flax. To-day yet another of his successors in office is visiting Taranaki, and though his visit can be only a brief one it will, it is hoped, prove of some value to the province as well as to the distinguished visitor. Though conditions have greatly altered since Sir Joseph Banks visited New Zealand, there is the same zeal in research and desire for service underlying the visit of Dr. Hill. Investigation in pasture lands of the Empire has become recognised as a field for thorough exploration. So important is it considered that a British Minister of the Crown has resigned his portfolio in order to concentrate upon this particular research. Yet this is but one phase of the botanical research in which the Empire is interested. The policy of sending leading scientists to study Dominion conditions on the spot cannot be too highly commended. Apart from its technical value, it strengthens that personal touch between scientists at Home and in the Dominions which is so valuable as an aid to co-ordinated effort.