SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
When the Institute of Science and Industry Bill was under debate 
in the House of Representatives, Mr. L. E. Groom, Minister for Works 
and Railways, pointed out that it was the policy of the Commonwealth 
Government, and of those who had ‘been in charge of the work of the 
Institute all through, to act in complete harmony and co-operation, with 
the State authorities. This desire for co-operation may be seen from 
the very beginning of the movement to establish the Institute. At the 
initial Conference, which the Prime Minister convened in January, 
1916, for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken foy 
wedding science to’ industry, all the State Governments were invited 
to send representatives, with the object of securing their co-operation 
and assistance from the outset. Not only were there present at that 
Conference representatives of science and industry from all States, but 
the State Ministers of Agriculture of Victoria, South Australia, and 
Queensland also attended and took part in the deliberations. The — 
Ministers of Agriculture for the other ‘States were invited, but were ._ 
unable to attend. It was at this Conference that the scheme upon which 
the Institute of Science and Industry Bill is based was formulated and 
adopted. 
In accordance with the provisions of this scheme, a temporary 
Advisory Council was appointed, and held its first meeting in April, 
1916. In addition to representatives of each of the State Universities 
and of various industrial interests, the State Ministers of Agriculture 
of Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland, and the Director of Agri- 
culture, New South Wales, representing his Minister, were present. More- 
over, it was decided at that meeting that, in order that each State 
should not have less than three representatives on the Council (in 
addition to the Ministers of Agriculture, who are ea officio members), 
the Commonwealth Government should ask certain of the State Govern- 
ments to nominate additional representatives. This was done, and 
representative State Committees were thus brought into existence in 
each State. An Executive Committee was appointed, and, in conjunc- 
tion with the State Committees, proceeded to carry out the work for 
which the temporary Advisory Council was appointed. Tn carrying 
out this work, special attention was given to the question of co-operating 
with the State Government scientific and technical Departments and 
other institutions carrying on scientific work. Members of the Execu- 
tive Committee made special visits to New South Wales and Queens- 
land for the express purpose of obtaining the sympathy and co-operation 
of State Ministers and others in the work of the Institute. 
In both these States members of the Government expressed their 
willingness to co-operate, but when the question of the work and policy 
of the Institute was brought up for discussion at the Premiers’ 
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