340 Proceedings. 



tinue with us. If the colleges had the funds wherewith to provide adequate payment 

 to trained assistants and demonstrators so that they would remain more than a year or 

 two at the college and be teamed in research as well as in teaching, this would relieve 

 the professors, and the college would be able to provide men and women capable of 

 aiding our industrialists in solving their problems. 



But without a supply of such men any scheme for scientific and industrial research 

 loses much of its point and value. And in the present scheme, although reference is 

 made to increasing the number and value of these Research Scholarships, it does not 

 seem to me that the Committee have sufficiently considered the mode of supply of 

 requisite students. This is precisely what is being felt in Britain, where unfortunately 

 many of the younger men of science have suffered death in this war instead of having 

 been retained for the vastly important work of the future peace. 



Moreover, one reason why so many capable research students enter the teaching 

 profession in Britain, as here, is that manufacturers have not seen fit. in most cases, 

 to offer to trained researchers sufficient remuneration. 



Unless the professors are relieved of much of their routine work, and until it is 

 recognized that the first duty of a professor is the promotion of research rather than, 

 teaching, the award of scholarships will be in vain, and the introduction of graduates 

 into industry will not lead to the developments necessary to carry out the ideal set out 

 in the scheme for improving our industrial position in the world. 



In the covering letter signed by Mr. Hogben, Chairman of Committee, to the 

 Chairman of the National Efficiency Board I notice an important proposal — viz., that 

 some system of propaganda should be started. This is necessary, as the industrialists 

 are no doubt in ignorance of what has been taking place, what steps are proposed, and, 

 indeed, of the importance of the whole scheme. Almost too much stress seems to be 

 laid in this report on research, and too little on the utilization of the scientific knowledge 

 which has been accumulated by investigators in other countries. Hence the great 

 importance of the propaganda hinted at by Mr. Hogben. What is so pre-eminently 

 needed here, as in Britain, is a campaign to disseminate the scientific spirit throughout 

 the community ; for unless we educate the entire people as to the value of the scientific 

 method the object of this scheme will, I fear, be but temporarily and partially attained, 

 and the movement so carefully elaborated by the Committee will soon collapse owing 

 to the absence of any firm foundation in education. 



I do not know whether I ought to criticize the report of the Committee, but it 

 seems to me that the method of election of the four members the Board is very 

 elaborate, and the constitution of the local Advisory Boards too large, and there is no 

 indication of where researches are to be conducted. 



That it does not require a great amount of organization to produce useful reseaich 

 in regard to industry is seen by what has been done in South Australia. The South 

 Australian Government Department of Chemistry, under Dr. Hargreaves, has issued 

 nine bulletins dealing with possible new industries, and with industrial research on 

 such matters as — Bonedust, its adulteration with phosphate rock ; alcohol as a source 

 of power ; foaming of boiler waters ; grass-trees (Xanlhorrhoca), their economic pro- 

 ducts ; potash, its economic sources ; wool-fat, its recovery and purification ; cream 

 of tartar, its manufacture ; marine fibre, attempts to utilize. 



Another matter that will come before us is a report as to the proposed reform of the 

 New Zealand Institute, which originated with Dr. J. Allan Thomson and the Wellington 

 Philosophical Society. The proposals have been criticized by the affiliated societies 

 chiefly in regard to the proposed new kind of membership and the change in name of 

 the existing members to that of " associates." All the societies seem in favour of the 

 establishment of Fellows, but if this be carried out we must guard the privilege of fellow- 

 ship very jealously and put a definite limit on the number of Fellows to be elected annually, 

 for there are not very many workers in science who are doing or have done work of such 

 a high-class character as to entitle them to this distinction, and the number will soon 

 become exhausted, so that unless a limit is placed on the number of Fellows it will become 

 almost a matter of course that any worker would be nominated and the title would 

 soon cease to have any honour attached to it. But the proposals have another aim, 

 that of increasing the funds of the Institute, and I do not see that in this respect much 

 is to be hoped for from the reform proposed. 



In my address at the last annual meeting of the Governors I referred to the Cawthron 

 Institute. The report of the Commission appointed by the Trustees to draw up a scheme 

 for the proper working of this Institute of research has now been presented to the 

 Trustees, who are acting on the lines therein recommended. As the matter is one of 

 very great importance for the future development of scientific work, it may be desirable 

 to put the gist of the report on record here. The Institute will be erected, when the war 



