SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
FUTURE PROSPECTS. 
The deposits in middle Germany, and particularly at Stassfurt, which gave 
the potash syndicate a world monopoly of potash, turned out nearly 1,200,000 
tons in 1914, of which only 530,000 tons were allowed to be exported. But it 
is not generally known that enormous deposits also, exist in Alsace, now under 
French control, and: that when the machinery’ destroyed by the Germans during 
‘the war has been ‘put into order, it swill be possible to export from this source 
alone no less ‘than 800,000 tons annually, PES atl chal i ' 
Doubtless, prices. will be regulated, but most, of the emergency, sources of 
yotash will: have had their day. On the other hand, the world may confidently 
anticipate in the near future an abundant supply of these valuable salts, quite 
independent. of German’ control. rot ; se 
In the meantime, it would appear that Germany is to be allowed to pay portion 
of her war indemnity in the form of Stassfurt salts; at all events, a shipload 
from there has this month arrived in Australia. 
Te ties tf i Set 44S Lek Hea wes wh ae i neta 
“In comparison with research work carried out in Scotland, where the subject 
has not received the attention which it deserves, the extensive arrangements which 
are made and encouragements which are given to experiment and investigation in 
Australia are ‘gratifying and'‘surprising. “Pleasant also is the universal enthusiasm 
discovered: in‘ thé! directors of experiment stations, ‘and, indeed; in all*connected with 
‘the work of development. “It appeared-to us, however,’ that'a‘considerableamount of 
overlapping‘ was''going on,'' that” in general‘ there was’ a’ want of ‘co*ordination and 
co-operation, that the policy of allowing each State to attempt to attack ‘the ‘solution 
of each agricultural problem ‘by itself was not‘the most economical. * There’are: many 
‘problems: which are common to the whole of Australia,*or to the greater part’ of it, 
and “it’would ‘appear that ‘time and money would be saved by placing some ‘ofthe 
work 'of* research | inthe hands: of a‘ Federal Department.” \Foréxample, ‘every ‘State 
is afflicted 'with various’ stock’ diseases. In Queerisland, there is” ‘tick fever”; and in 
another, “dry: bible’ ;* in’ another,’there is ‘coast'disease’; and so on! A ‘strong and 
‘well-equipped Federal: Department would seem’more' likely to cope'with such diseases 
‘than the weaker and less ‘well-equipped States Departments. The prickly pear, again, 
is not’a State monopoly, but ‘may; through’ time} spread over most of ‘the ‘country; 
and here again is an argument for Federal control, which would not absorb ‘or limit 
the energies of the State Departments, but concern itself with a broader and a wider field.” 
—From Report of the Scottish Commission quoted by, Hon. L. Ex Groom, M,P., 
- in his second-reading speech on the Science and Industry Bill, - Lo» 
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