SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
would be reaped by the individual person or firm, that is true. But 
in most cases the benefit would be to a large number, and no single 
firm could undertake the investigation. For example—diseases of stock 
or of crops—a successful investigation would benefit the whole pastoral 
or agricultural community; the application of mangrove or redgum 
tannin to leather manufacture would benefit all tanners, bootmakers, 
and boot users; the successful seasoning of our timbers or the manu- 
facture of paper pulp from timber waste would include in its results 
every one that used timber or read a newspaper, from the State that 
owned the forest to the citizen that owned the furniture. 
Investigations may be divided into three classes— 
1. Those of no immediate nor obvious utility. To this class belong 
the researches of “pure” science; they broaden the foundations on 
which all industries are built. Their real value is their addition to 
human knowledge, their contribution to the ultimate understanding of 
the universe. Their apparent value is their utility in laying the founda- 
tions of future industries. This work is the glory of our universities 
and scientists. 
2, Those investigations which would benefit special firms. This kind 
of problem would not, as a rule, be brought to the Institute. Manu- 
facturers would prefer to solve their own problems and keep their 
own secrets. If work of this kind were, in special circumstances, under- 
taken by the Institute it.should be on a definite arrangement regarding 
costs and information obtained. . 
3. Investigations whose benefits embrace a large number of indi- 
viduals or industries. ‘These are of immediate and obvious ‘utility. 
The research involves usually not so much the discovery of new truths 
_ as the application of old knowledge. These must be undertaken in 
some broadly co-operative way. ‘The most satisfactory is that of the 
proposed Institute, dividing the work and cost with the States or 
industries concerned. This method has been in successful operation, 
-although the Institute is heavily handicapped in carrying out the 
work by its lack of permanent organization and scientific staff. 
This is the real work, work of the greatest national value to 
Australia and its citizens, and which is at present not provided for in 
any way. It demands the application of new knowledge to industry, 
thorough acquaintance with scientific methods of investigation, efficient 
supervision and direction of specialized research workers, organizing 
capacity, commercial experience, and intimate knowledge of industries 
and commercial methods of operation. It requires special men and 
special laboratories. To endeavour to carry it out as an addition to 
existing institutions would be a wasteful duplication of buildings and 
of staff, and a hopeless attempt to do exacting work in the spare time 
_of busy men. — 
D. A. 
196 
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