Section C—Botanical Sciences

Address by the Chairman, W. R. B. Oliver. Botany in Post-War New Zealand The occasion of a scientific congress, such as we are holding in Wellington, is an appropriate time to review the position of the botanical sciences and to record one's views as to what should be done in the future. Besides an unbelievable upset in material things due to a world war lasting six years, there has been a great disturbance in men's minds, a kind of shaking up, causing a greater proportion of the people to become aware that their knowledge of things about them is deficient. More and more people are, I believe, realising that they must educate themselves for taking their place in a new and more complicated world. More realise that it is necessary, if they are to maintain positions in the forefront of world progress, to be properly equipped as regards scientific knowledge. And so we find to-day an increasing demand for scientific and technical education. The demands of war itself have led to notable advances in almost all branches of science. This has made life more complex and thus increased the necessity for scientific qualifications. Indeed the desire for education is one of the most hopeful signs for the future peace of the world, for the wider a man's knowledge, the more rational he becomes and the better he will understand the peoples of other nations. A general uplift in education, I am sure, will improve international relations, while, if the movement is world wide, it will help to bring about what we all desire, namely, a world of peace and safety. During the war there was little expansion of research work other than that connected with essential industries. Now with normal conditions returning, it is hoped that facilities will be increased for carrying out all kinds of research, though some years may elapse before money and personnel will be available for much expansion. Improvements in the pay of research workers is necessary to halt the drain that continually goes on of New Zealand scientists taking up overseas positions. We must therefore see that the tide of scientific research in New Zealand goes on with increasing momentum, and if other countries will do the same a world-wide basis should be provided for nations to work harmoniously together. In this way will the ground be prepared for freer interchanges across international boundaries. Surely it will be the increase of knowledge that eventually will undermine the wall that now divides the world into two. In a world daily becoming more thirsty for information, the flood of knowledge continually being released by research workers must