is8 



NATURE 



[April 25, 1918 



tionofthe "survey" being entrusted to a reporter, who 

 is apparently a scientific or technical expert. 



l^ew Zealand.. 



The Britisli memorandum on the suggestions for 

 making the British scheme applicable to the whole 

 Empire was referred by the Hon, Minister of Internal 

 Affairs to Dr. Thomson for report. At that time the 

 original Australian proposals were also available in 

 New Zealand. Dr. Thomson's report consisted of two 

 parts, the first exposing the defects of the pre-war 

 relationship between science and industry, the second 

 outlining proposals for New Zealand. 



At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute 

 on January 31, 19 17, the reports of the affiliated socie- 

 ties were adopted, and the following resolutions were 

 passed :— (i) That scientific research be endowed to a 

 very much g'reater extent than has been done in the 

 past; (2) that the importance of research in pure science 

 be recognised as of equal importance with that in 

 applied science ; (3) that as a definite step towards the 

 endowment of research adequate provision be made for 

 the appointment of fully qualified assistants to the 

 professors of science in the four university colleges : 

 (4) that a Board of Science and Industry be constituted, 

 to consist of (a) members selected by the New Zealand 

 Institute ; (b) reoresentatives of the scientific Depart- 

 ments of the Government ; and (c) leaders in industry 

 and commerce. This Board to recommend and direct 

 research problems, and to have power to spend money 

 voted by Parliament for the purpose. 



The New Zealand Institute further offered its ser- 

 vices at a deputation to the Acting Prime Minister, 

 and received the reply that the matter would be re- 

 ferred to the National Efficiency Board, the setting up 

 of which was contemplated. 



The Standing Committee of the New Zealand Insti- 

 tute has, at the request of the Efficiency Board, set 

 up an Industrial and Research Committee in Welling- 

 ton to receive and co-ordinate suggestions from the 

 affiliated societies of the institute and from other bodies 

 interested, and to frame a scheme for submission to 

 the board of governors. Consequent on the resigna- 

 tion of the National Efficiency Board, the chairman of 

 that board has intimated that it is the desire of the 

 Government that the New Zealand Institute should 

 proceed with its deliberations and report directly to the 

 Government. 1 



In the meantime the General Council of Education 

 had set up a Recess Committee to consider the adapta- 

 tion of the educational system of the Dominion to the 

 development of its resources. The Committee met in 

 Christchurch from May 16 to 18, and the report deal- 

 ing with scientific research was adopted by the Council 

 in the following form : — 



(i) There should be a National Advisory Council on 

 Research, consisting of (a) four scientific'men, one of 

 whom should be a scientific expert attached to a 

 Government Department, (b) three members connected 

 with leading industries of the Dominion, one of whom 

 should represent agriculture. 



(2) (i) The National Advisory Council should con- 

 sider and allot to the proper persons for investigation 

 all proposals for specific researches (or at its discretion 

 reject such prop'>'5als). The proposals might be re- 

 ferred to it by the Efficiency Board, or might come 

 from institutions, or societies, or private persons, or 

 might originate in the Council itself, (ii) The Council 

 might also consider the problems affecting particular 

 industries, to determine along what lines research 

 mig:-ht be instituted, (iii) The Council should award 

 and supervise the tenure of the research fellowships 



1 In view of the reappointment of the Nat'onal F.fTic'en':v Board, the 

 institute will presumably renort to that body .-is originally requested. 



NO. 2530, VOL. lOl] 



mentioned below, and should, on the request of the 

 University of New Zealand, consult with and advise the 

 Senate of the University in matters relating to the 

 national research scholarships in the award of that body, 

 (iv) The Advisory Council should consider and advise 

 the General Council of Education as to the lines along 

 which there could be brought about a general improve- 

 ment in scientific education with the view of the train-, 

 ing of experts, and should co-operate with that Council 

 and other public bodies in taking such steps as may 

 lead to the better appreciation of the aims and advan- 

 tages of science on the part of producers and the 

 general body of citizens. 



(3) In audition to the existing national research 

 scholarships (the number of which should be increased) 

 there should be established research fellowships tenable 

 for two, three, or more years by men or women quali- 

 fied and willins" to conduct researches approved by the 

 Council. (The fellowships should be of sufficient value 

 to prevent the possible holders from being attracted 

 away to other positions.) 



(4) The University and the University colleges should 

 assist the fellows in their research in suCh ways as may 

 be arranged. 



(5) It is suggested that three Ministers of the Crown 

 should form a Research Committee of the Executive 

 Council, and that all the proposals of the National 

 Advisory Council involving additional expenditure or a 

 question of policy should come before the Committee 

 for approval. Except in this respect the National Ad- 

 visory Council should not be considered as a depart- 

 ment of the public service, but should be free to act 

 as it thought fit in regard to matters within its control. 



(6) (i) In further explanation of the functions of the 

 National Advisory Council it is suggested that the fol- 

 lowing should be included among them. The Council 

 might (a) recommend to industrial firms or com- 

 panies scientific managers, superintendents, assistants, 

 or scientific experts ; (b) advise industrial firms or com- 

 panies as to improvements in the arts and processes 

 employed, and as to the utilisation of waste products ; 

 (c) make recommendations as to the adoption in any 

 industry of the results of investigations conducted 

 under its directions ; (d) undertake the investigation of 

 industrial problems that, if unsolved, would obstruct 

 the development of industries concerned; (e) advise the 

 Government in regard to the help that should be given 

 to any new industry that is likely to be ultimately of 

 value to the country, though at first it may not be 

 worked except at a loss, (ii) The Council might advise 

 the Government as to what contribution, if any, should 

 be made towards th^' cost of any research by the firms 

 or companies concerned. 



(7) That all bulletins and reports relating to the re- 

 searches set up by the Council should be drawn up 

 and published with its authority. 



(8) That the Council of Education communicate with 

 the chambers of commerce, the annual conferences of 

 the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the New 

 Zealand National Dairy Association, and the New 

 Zealand Farmers' Union intimating that the Council 

 would welcome any suggestion from these bodies as 

 to how the educational agencies of the Dominion might 

 assist in achievinpf the purpose of bringing the pro- 

 duce of our New Zealand industries into the most 

 profitable relationship with the markets of the world. 



(q) That the attention of the Government be directed 

 to the necessitv for establishing a course for the train- 

 ing of hydro-electric engineers. 



During the past year various industrial bodies have 

 discussed the £jeneral question, and passed resolutions 

 approving of increased Government aid to indusitrial 

 research, but no details of any scheme have been 

 framed bv them. 



