Presidential Address.

The following is the presidential address delivered before the New Zealand Institute on the 31st January, 1922, at Wellington, by Thomas Hill Easterfield, M.A., Ph.D., F.I.C., F.N.Z.Inst., Director of the Cawthron Institute of Scientific Research, and Emeritus Professor in Victoria University College:—

In my presidential address last year I spoke to the general public on some aspects of scientific research, and I outlined certain schemes whereby research might be forwarded for the intellectual and scientific advancement of our country. To-day I address the Board of Governors only, and I know it is needless to impress upon them the importance of scientific investigation, for the members of this Board have an honourable record of published investigations, and to my certain knowledge are anxious to advance the cause and the progress of scientific research.

Nevertheless, I feel that greater co-operation is needed than exists at present amongst New Zealand men of science in the effort made on behalf of research. This want has been felt in other countries; and the United States notably has made great efforts, by means of the National Research Council, to co-ordinate the research activities in that country of amazing progress. Certain correspondence has passed between the National Research Council and our own Institute during the year, and I trust we shall be able to co-operate with them in research work upon certain problems of the Pacific Ocean. It is, however, difficult to see how great progress in the matter of organization of research can be made without financial assistance, and it would certainly appear that, owing to the changed financial situation, the time has come for some complete change of policy in New Zealand. Great as is the value of the contributions to science made by those who are bearing the whole cost of their investigations, it must be recognized that the number of those who are in a position to do work in this manner is limited. Moreover, in the case of some of the sciences, the apparatus and material required are of such an expensive nature that few amateurs can afford to supply the equipment with which such work can be carried out efficiently. The work, however, must be done, and we as an Institute shall be lacking in our sense of duty to the country in which we live if we do not exert great efforts in order that the difficulties may be overcome. It is worth while considering whether the Councils of the societies affiliated to the New Zealand Institute should not be circularized and asked to suggest methods whereby the research spirit may be fostered in their own districts, so that greater attention may be given to investigation in pure and applied science throughout the Dominion. It must be admitted that we have not yet educated the public of New Zealand to the point of recognizing that national progress is largely dependent upon the continuous application of scientific discovery to technical problems, and that the development of technical science depends directly upon discovery in the realms of chemistry, physics, and biology.

I regret to inform you that the research grant, which last year Cabinet had raised from £250 to £2,000, has been brought down to £400, and that it is possible that no new grants will be made during the coming year.

Financial difficulty is also facing the Institute in other directions. Those who have made a careful study of the balance-sheets supplied by our Treasurer will have noticed that our liabilities are £678 in excess of our available assets, notwithstanding that the statutory grant was last year increased under the New Zealand Institute Amendment Act from £500 to £1,000. The deficit is mainly due to the fact that the cost of printing the Transactions has risen from approximately 14s. 4d. per page in 1913 to nearly £2 in 1921. In view of the financial position, I have taken upon myself the very grave responsibility of overriding a decision of the Standing Committee, arrived at before the printer's account had been received, to the effect that the printing of certain papers should be proceeded with at once, and have instructed the Hon. Editor to hold up the work until a resolution of this meeting can be arrived at.

It is interesting to notice that the New Zealand Institute is in the same difficulty as the scientific societies in Great Britain and Europe, most of which have found it necessary to increase, and in some cases to double, the subscriptions of their members. Notwithstanding this increase, many of the societies are publishing their Transactions at a loss, which in some cases is being met out of reserve funds. The position of the New Zealand Institute, however, is different from that of any other learned society with which I am acquainted, in that its members are the members of the affiliated societies, and therefore pay no subscription to the New Zealand Institute, though of recent years a levy of 2s. 6d. has been raised for each copy of the Transactions supplied to them. This position cannot, of course, arise in the case of the similar societies, the Royal Societies in the various Australian States, for the members of these bodies pay their subscription direct to the society, which is thus enabled to finance its publications.

It would seem that there are several methods which might be adopted in order to meet the present financial situation-:—

• (1.) The Institute might decide to cease all publication until the general situation improves. This would be a most drastic action, and one which I should personally oppose. Apart from the fact that it is almost unthinkable to stop after fifty-two years of consecutive publication, it is very doubtful if the situation would be improved. Possibly all the societies would withdraw from affiliation to the New Zealand Institute, which would ipso facto cease to exist.

• (2.) The size of the volume might be reduced by a stricter censorship on the part of our able Editor and the Committee of Publication. If this method of reduction of cost were effected with judgment, probably little harm would ensue. It is a method which has been effectively applied for many years by several of the best-known London and Continental societies. It must be admitted, I think, that some authors are unduly prolix, and that by reducing the length of their papers they would add to their effectiveness.

• (3.) Illustrations might be reduced largely. In the case of some classes of papers this course of action might do no harm; in other cases it would deprive the papers of much of their interest. Few biologists would value a description of a new genus of plant or animal without carefully produced figures of anatomical details.

• (4.) Authors might be charged with a portion of the cost of printing their papers and of producing the accompanying plates. This plan has recently been adopted by at least one London society. It is, however, hard upon the investigators, and would be particularly hard upon the younger members of our Institute, workers who are seldom in receipt of a salary which provides more than a bare subsistence.

• (5.) The levy on the local societies might be raised to 10s. per copy of the Transactions. The volume is certainly worth this sum.

• (6.) The levy on the societies might be dropped altogether and the volume supplied only to those members who desired it, a sum being charged which would pay for the cost of production. I fear that the introduction of this method at the present time of general stringency might increase rather than diminish our financial difficulties.

• (7.) An appeal might be made to our members to establish a printing fund by voluntary contributions. I do not doubt that a large number of our older members who have for years received the benefits of an interesting journal, for which they have paid nothing directly, would be willing to subscribe to such a fund, and thus help in the publication of the papers contributed by younger members.

The above suggestions I commend to the earnest attention of the Board of Governors, feeling sure that their deliberative wisdom will enable the Institute to escape from a situation which, though embarrassing, is certainly not to be regarded as desperate.