HEATH REPORT STRONGLY CRITICISED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17862, 2 June 1926, Page 3

HEATH REPORT STRONGLY CRITICISED.

RESEARCH IS WORK OF INDUSTRY, NOT OF THE UNIVERSITY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 2. Strong criticism of Sir Frank Heath’s report on research centralisation was made yesterday by one prominent in research work, who declared that Sir Frank Heath’s proposals merely meant creating a replica of the British department of which he merely was secretary. Britain was one of the most backward countries of the world in industrial research, and had not yet begun on the problems which Germany and America had already tackled, with successful results. “ The proposal to transfer industrial research work to the University can only be regarded as a retrograde step,” he said. “ The universities’ first work is teaching, and as in New Zealand they are understaffed, they cannot possibly undertake research, which is really the responsibility of industry itself. The Government could accomplish more by the expenditure of £IO,OOO per annum than bv setting up elaborate boards and central direction, as proposed by Sir Frank Heath. The cost of the latter would probably be found to be so great (possibly £100,000) in the first year that it would break down with its own weight. In any case for the sake of true and efficient research it is to be hoped that such a department will not have a long life.”