546 Proceedings. 



industry. New Zealand lags beh'nd the Commonwealth in this matter. As you are 

 aware, "the Prime Minister of Australia set aside a quarter of a million sterling for the 

 preliminary work of a conjoint Board on which science and industries are represented, 

 the work of that Board being to investigate various defined and important subjects 

 the solution of which would lead to improvements in manufacture, the utilization 

 of waste products, the destruction of certain weeds which had become a pest, and so 

 forth. 



In New Zealand very little progress has been made with the scheme initiated by 

 the Institute. Certain committees have, been set up in the four centres, and the Auck- 

 land committee have circulated a valuable pamphlet containing their recommendations, 

 which will be seen from the report laid before you. There was formed at Dunedin an 

 " Institute of Science and Industry," which roused a certain amount of enthusiasm 

 amongst the representatives of the local industries, many of whom co-operated with 

 the scientific men. 



The Minister of Internal Affairs has expressed his intention of calling a conference, 

 which we may hope will result in some practical steps being taken to bring the results 

 of scientific research and method into closer relation with some of the industries. It 

 is not my intention to discuss the matter here, but, as this Institute is the chief body 

 of scientific opinion in the Dominion, and should be able to exercise greyer influence 

 than it does at present in all matters involving scientific principles, I cannot pass the 

 movement by altogether. 



The valuable report on the relation of science to industry circulated by the com- 

 'nittee of the Auckland Institute contains, as you will have seen, recommendations for 

 increased teaching of science, foi increased remuneration of research scholars and an 

 extension of the system, and for the application of science to industry. In the case 

 of the last, it seems to me that the committee have scarcely gone as far as they might" 

 Chemical analyses, bacteriology, and agriculture are mentioned, but no reference is 

 made to other industries. Moreover, I think that the gap between the student who 

 has done academic research and one employed in an industrial research is not bridged 

 by the recommendation. 



It has been a complaint, I understand, by manufacturers in England that most 

 of the young graduates, usually chemists, that have come to them from universities 

 are useless, owing to the fact that they have, naturally, no knowledge of doing research 

 on a business scale : they know, and generally can know, nothing of the especial needs 

 of the particular works, or such matters as the most economical way of production, 

 utilization of waste material or by-products. Tn other words, they lack a business 

 training in connection with their science. It has occurred to me that to get over such 

 a difficulty there should be a central research institute under a competent director with 

 business knowledge — a knowledge of the needs of manufacturers. Here the. graduate 

 would be set to work out special problems presented by manufacturers, under the guid- 

 ance of the director, and thus get some insight into the working of a large concern. 

 It would, of course, need money, but I suppose it would not be impossible to interest 

 the large manufacturers in the matter. Cet grants or endowments from individual 

 firms, from business corporations of various kinds, and 1 believe that such an institute 

 would justify itself in a few years. 



It seems to me that this Institute should take a much more active part in urging 

 the importance of a better training in science- — or, rather, in scientific methods — in our 

 secondary schools, and in urging, in season and out of season, on the industrial com- 

 munity the need for scientific organization and co-operation. It is to this Institute 

 that the Government should be induced to turn for advice anil assistance in any matter 

 in which science is involved. For instance, I understand that important reports from 

 the British Government were received by our Government and referred to a single 

 individual for a report. Now, these reports, it seems to me, should have been referred 

 to the Institute as a body, which, if necessary, should be called together to discuss and 

 advise. It is as true here as in Britain that few of our politicians have any knowledge 

 of science, or what is meant by scientific method ; and we ought to see that this is 

 remedied by persistent deputation, if need be, when the present grievous time is 

 passed. 



For instance, the matter of scientific afforestation is one that demands immediate 

 attention. It is true that a few years ago the Institute approached the Government 

 with the suggestion that a scientifically trained Forester lie appointed, but I believe 

 nothing has been done. The members of the Institute are all busy men, and it is 

 difficult, perhaps, to keep track of the varied needs of the Dominion ; but if each of 

 the scientific men on the Board were to bring forward from time to time the matters 

 that occur to them as being in need of reform, a special meeting of the Institute might 

 be held at which such matters might be discussed more fully than is possible at our 



