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Volume 60, 1930
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National Research Council—Report of Sub-Committee.

With a view to reporting as effectively as possible on the proposal to establish a National Research Council in New Zealand, your Committee sought information regarding the working functions and constitution of such

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Councils from widely different sources. Letters were written to England, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Japan, and with the exception of South Africa replies containing much information have been received.

Functions.—In all these countries the functions of the body which acts as the National Research Council appear to be much the same, and to be mainly twofold, viz.:

  • (1) To act as the body joining the International Union;

  • (2) To constitute a body independent of State influence which is capable of expressing authoritative opinion upon any scientific question which may be under discussion.

The evident object attempted to be achieved is to form a body which if asked by any Minister of State to express an opinion, or give advice on any scientific subject, shall be so constituted as to be able to do so in the most authoritative manner possible in the country concerned. On the other hand it is expressly stated (vide Sir Frank Heath's Report) that if it so think fit, the National Research Council may of its own motion forward its opinion on any scientific matter which may be in hand to the Minister of State concerned. These two functions are clearly set forth in Articles 10 and 11 of the constitution of the Japanese National Research Council.

Article 10 reads: “The National Research Council may present its views to any of the Ministers of State concerned on matters relating to science and its applications.”

The objects more definitely stated of the Australian National Research Council are as follows:—

  • (1) To represent Australia on the International Research Council.

  • (2) To promote generally, as far as possible in co-operation with existing institutions, the cause of scientific research in Australia.

  • (3) To serve as an Australian National Academy of Sciences.

Constitution.—With the object of carrying out these functions a balanced body representative of the different branches of science has been called into being by different methods in different countries. Canada, however, seems to be exceptional.

In Australia and in Japan the National Research Councils consist of 100 members, the different sciences being represented by a specified number of members for each science.

In England the Royal Society performs the functions of the National Research Council.

In Canada, on the other hand, the National Research Council bears a very strong resemblance to our own Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, but consists of 15 members who are appointed by the State from the scientific and business men of the Dominion.

Thus of all the countries from which your Committee has succeeded in obtaining information Canada alone appears to have a National Research Council which under some conceivable circumstances might possibly be subject to political considerations, and one which, moreover, is not balanced as regards the sciences or indeed altogether scientific.

The question therefore which arises, and which must be decided, is whether it is more desirable to follow the lead of Canada or to adopt that of England, Australia and Japan.

Two considerations which are regarded as important in the last named countries are lacking in the Canadian National Research Council. It is not representative of all the sciences, and it is not free from possible political influence, and it cannot, therefore, watch critically the scientific activities of the Government and other bodies. This was considered to be a very important point by Sir Frank Heath, himself the secretary of the very Department in England most likely to come under the critical eye of the body functioning in England as the National Research Council.

It is in consequence of these considerations that your Committee takes the view that the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is not, as at present constituted, suitable to fulfil the duties of a National Research

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Council for New Zealand. Your Committee has therefore examined the constitution of the most obvious other body—The New Zealand Institute—to ascertain what alterations if any require to be made to it to enable it to act in the desired capacity. The New Zealand Institute seems to be clearly the body from which the National Research Council must arise, but in its present form it is no more suitable—indeed, it is less so—than the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Your Committee therefore suggests that a body consisting of about 25 members be initiated by the New Zealand Institute representative of the various sciences, consisting of ten sections with representation as follows:—

  • (1) Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 3 members.

  • (2) Anthropology and Ethnology, 2 members.

  • (3) Astronomy, Mathematics, Seismology and Meteorology, 3 members.

  • (4) Botany, Foresty and Zoology, 3 members.

  • (5) Chemistry and Metallurgy, 3 members.

  • (6) Economics and Statistics, 2 members.

  • (7) Engineering and Mining, 2 members.

  • (8) Geography and Geology, 2 members.

  • (9) Mental Science and Education, 2 members.

  • (10) Medical Science, Physiology and Pathology, 2 members.

In groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 the Committee recommends that in the first instance the representatives on the National Research Council be elected by the Fellows of the New Zealand Institute who owe their Fellowship to work in the Group for which they vote, and your Committee suggests that no Fellow should be an elector in two groups.

In Group 6 it is suggested that the Professors of Economics in the four University Colleges be the first electing body.

In Group 7 the New Zealand Society of Engineers.

In Group 9 the Professors of Education in the four University Colleges.

In Group 10 the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association.

In Group 1 your Committee has not been able to suggest a suitable electing body from among the many that exist.

Your Committee recommends that after the initial election any vacancy occurring shall be filled by the remaining members of the National Research Council. This appears to be the practice of other National Research Councils of this nature.

Finance.—Your Committee recommends that, in view of the fact that New Zealand desires only to follow a lead well established and fulfilling a useful function in many other countries and initiated by International Conferences held (a) in London in October, 1918, (b) in Paris in November, 1918, and (c) in Brussels in 1919, and that, moreover, the members of the National Research Council to be formed are performing a public duty and are reaping for themselves personally no material advantages, representation might very properly be made to the Government of the Dominion in this connection. The method adopted in Australia of a subscription of two guineas from each member should also be considered, though it would yield but an insignificant sum.

Finally, seeing that one of the objects in view is to set up a body entirely outside political influence, your Committee suggests that a seat on the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research should bar the holder from also holding a seat on the National Research Council.

Your Committee has the pleasure to forward you the information it has collected upon this subject.

(Signed) A. M. Wright.


C. Coleridge Farr.

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