656 State Aid for Agricultural Research. [nov., 



The most pressing question which confronts those respon- 

 sible for the development of agriculture is the system on 

 which any funds which the Development Commissioners may 

 allot for research are to be utilised. Whether in establishing: 

 one or two central stations, or by spreading the grants over a 

 number of institutions ? 



This question is one on which Agriculturists are not agreed. 

 Among a certain number the opinion is held that better 

 results would follow on the adoption of the first system. It 

 is alleged that there has been a great deal of waste in 

 connection with the experimental work carried out by local, 

 authorities with the aid of the "Whisky Money," and fears 

 are expressed that if the Development Funds were used to 

 encourage local research, this experience would be repeated. 

 But the "Whisky Money" was placed at the disposal of 

 Technical Instruction Committees who had, when appointed, 

 no special knowledge of experimental work, and under such 

 conditions disappointment might have been anticipated. It 

 is not suggested that this method of allotting funds for local 

 use should be repeated ; those who are in favour of decentrali- 

 sation in research work assume that the expenditure of 

 research funds would be entrusted to universities, colleges, 

 institutions or associations of persons capable of utilising 

 funds for research ; and it is pointed out that the wording of 

 the Act clearly indicates that this is what was contemplated. 

 We have in the country endowed institutions, such as the 

 Rothamsted Experimental Station for research in agriculture 

 and the John Innes Institution for work in horticulture, we 

 have universities offering great advantages to those under- 

 taking original investigation, and agricultural and veterinary 

 colleges in which research has already been begun. Through 

 these institutions it is argued we are more likely to utilise 

 Science for the benefit of Agriculture than would be the case 

 if we established a central experimental station for each 

 country. 



From a purely administrative point of view a State Research 

 Station would offer certain advantages, but it is only necessary 

 to examine the character of the work to be done to see that 

 much of it must necessarily be local. The diseases of animals 

 and plants might be studied with advantage up to a point 



