298 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [July 
to eliminate interference with its work by laymen. It is not advisable 
here to describe the various methods by which unqualified persons attempt 
to exercise an influence on the work of State Geological Surveys. Suffice 
it to say that these methods come largely under that somewhat vague 
term, “ political influence,” or “ pull,” which, like charity, covers a multi¬ 
tude of sins, as well as some good deeds. It must be admitted that the 
public, through its elected trustees, the members of Parliament, and more 
especially the members of the Government in power for the time being, 
is entitled to exercise control over a State Survey. The evils of political 
influence, however, can be sufficiently proved by reference to foreign States, 
without necessarily admitting that they exist in New Zealand. The 
politician ought not to be wholly blamed for all the ill results of his 
interference. He is in duty bound to do something, and his want of 
knowledge in many matters under his control is a necessary evil of 
democracy as at present constituted. 
All lines of reasoning point to the desirability of the elimination of 
direct political control in the case of scientific organizations. Probably 
the best practical method of efficiently directing a State Geological 
Survey is to place it under a board of experts, the members of which 
would be appointed partly by the Government and partly by scientific 
bodies. In order to prevent uncalled-for interference by bureaucratic 
officials, the powers and functions of the Survey ought to be defined by 
Act of Parliament. 
In general a State Geological Survey is instituted for the purpose of 
assisting in the development of the natural, and particularly of the 
mineral, resources of the country. This, then, has usually to be regarded 
as its main function or duty. In any case, the detailed geologic mapping 
of the greater part of the country is necessary before scientific predictions 
concerning the occurrence of most useful minerals can be made. 
The layman is apt to take a narrow view of the proper activities of a 
Geological Survey, and, in particular, the collection and study of fossils 
appears to him a useless pursuit, undertaken by the palaeontologist either 
from idle curiosity or because his nature impels him so to act. In either 
case it appears to the outsider that the scientist is merely seeking his own 
personal gratification, an impression that some workers certainly do little 
to remove. The truth, however, is that palaeontology is the most essential 
branch of geology, for without it geology could not exist as a science. 
It is indispensable in the study of coal and oil fields, and only in the case 
of mineral deposits in igneous rocks or surface gravels can it be regarded 
as unimportant. 
Among the functions that may well be assigned to a Geological Survey 
is the preliminary soil survey of the country. An intensive soil survey 
such as is ultimately required in all agricultural countries is beyond its 
scope, and would be better assigned to a special Survey in which agri¬ 
culturists would be prominent. This appears to be the course really 
advocated by L. J. Wild* in his paper of 1917 proposing a soil survey for 
New Zealand, though his main line of argument seeks to prove that 
geological formations do not give rise to “ unique ” soil types, a claim 
which has probably never been made by a geologist of extended field 
experience. A Geological Survey may further help the agriculturist by 
* L. J. Wild, On the Proposal for a Soil Survey of New Zealand, Trans. N.Z. 
Inst., vol. 49, pp. 476-90, 1917. 
