SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL. 
The International Research Council bids fair to become an impor- 
‘tant scientific body which will, as its name implies, perform important 
work of an international character. During the war a great deal of 
co-operative scientific work was performed by scientists.of the Allied 
countries in connexion with war problems, and it is intended now 
to perpetuate that co-operation, and apply it to the problems of peace. 
A communication has been received by the Royal Society of New South 
Wales from Professor A. Schuster, Secretary of the Royal Society, 
London, intimating that Australia is invited to join the International 
Research Council. It is intended to hold a conference in Sydney on 
21st August next to consider Australian action and representation, and 
it will be attended by delegates from the Royal Societies of the different. 
States, and from other scientific bodies. Dr. Gellatly and Professor 
Orme Masson will represent the Institute of Science and Industry, and 
if one or other of these gentlemen are unable to attend, Mr. Leverrier, 
K.C., Chairman of the New South Wales Committee, will be asked to 
take his place. 
POWER _ ALCOHOL. 
Wide interest is being shown by engineering experts in the result 
of the tests made by the special committee on alcohol fuel and engines, 
which were published by Mr. W. N. Kernot in the last number. of 
Science and Industry. The motor trade in particular is bestirring itself 
in the matter, and at a recent Inter-State conference of motor traders 
the potential value of the experimental work was keenly discussed. 
At the request of the Motor Traders Association of South Australia, 
it was decided by the special committee to send the mechanic who assisted 
in the investigations to Adelaide, in order to demonstrate the alcohol 
engine running, and to give such other information as might be desired. 
RABBIT EXTERMINATION BY POISON GAS. 
A proposal, which recently was widely circulated, and which, because 
of its apparent simplicity, aroused a great deal of interest among 
pastoralists, was that the extermination of rabbits should be systema- 
tically undertaken by means of chlorine and other poisonous gases. The 
scheme provided for the employment against the pest of all the para- 
phernalia of gas attack in war. An expression of opinion upon the 
suggestion was sought from the Institute of Science and Industry, and 
it was pointed out that the scheme was impracticable, being the outcome 
of incomplete information about gas warfare, and implied also misappre- 
hension as to its objects, methods, and effects. In warfare, a gas attack 
is successful if it forces the enemy to evacuate a position and retire, and 
it can hardly be supposed that rabbits would be more unwilling to run 
away than trained soldiers. Clouds of poison gas on a large scale, 
if destructive of rabbits, would inevitably be quite as fatal to birds, 
and little, if any, less fatal to sheep and cattle. The poisoning of 
rabbits in. their burrows -is a. well-known method of attack, and is 
profitable in particular areas that are properly fenced to prevent rein- 
festation, but it offers no prospect of complete or wide-spread eradication. 
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