SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
Are not these sources of national wealth to be exploited? Are we 
to depend entirely upon a League of Nations for our future security, 
and make no effort to help ourselves? From the point of view of de- 
fence alone Australia must raise herself to a state of complete pre- 
paredness. From the financial stand-point, it will almost certainly be 
obligatory for us to cease borrowing at the earliest possible moment. 
This can only tbe effected by increasing the production and value of 
our products. Reconversion of all the indebtedness incurred before 
the war will probably add at least 30 per cent. to the annual interest we 
shall have to meet. The cost of repatriation—a mere portion of the 
obligation we are under to our soldiers and their dependants—the cost 
of pensions, and many other expenses caused by the war, which will be 
upon us after war is over for several generations, at least, can only 
be properly met by thorough appreciation of the problem by the whole 
community. Leaders of the community, both Commonwealth and 
State, must place the whole position plainly, even harshly, before the 
people, and organize the country to meet, contend with, and overcome 
the difficulties which will confront us all. 
There are many angles from which this great question can be 
viewed. One of them, not indeed the least, is the problem of the suc- 
cessful inauguration and operation of new industries which will very 
materially assist in keeping the people of the country effectively em- 
ployed, and will enormously increase the value of the natural products 
of Australia, and make all the difference from the points of view of 
defence, repatriation, population, and finance. 
_ If the destinies of this country are to remain in the hands of the 
people of Australia, if we wish to pass on to our children a country of 
which they and we may well be proud, then surely we must begin to 
work much harder towards setting our whole house in order. It is 
therefore absolutely imperative for new industries to be started in many 
quarters to work up primary products and by-products, and, further, it 
is equally essential for the Governments of the Commonwealth and 
States to assiduously and persistently foster these new industries. 
The Commonwealth already has shown its intentions in the forma- 
tion of the Institute of Science and Industry, and the Board of Trade, 
and at least one State, South Australia, had previously taken steps in 
the same direction. More, however, is necessary than the formation 
and financing of Institutes and Boards, namely, that the efforts should 
have the heartiest support from all departments of the different Govern- 
ments, and from the whole of the people in the Commonwealth. Much 
propaganda work in this direction is still needed. Salaries commen- 
surate with the proposals should be paid, and information and _assist- 
ance from other countries, particularly Great Britain and the United 
States of America, should be obtained in starting these new organiza- 
‘tions aright. Indeed, if it were possible to obtain from the United 
States Government one of their principal officials from, say one of 
their most successful Bureaux, such as the Bureau of Standards, either 
temporarily or permanently, it is more than likely much time, labour, 
- and worry would be saved. All will certainly admit that any avail- 
able experience should be obtained without, of course, casting the 
slightest reflection upon the ability of our own officials. 
~ Assuming that individualism in detail is more suited to the Anglo- 
Saxon temperament than collectivism, we shall have to consider how a 
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