670 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



mind, we would no longer desire to spend so much on bodily pleasure. Mr. Cox 

 touched the subject of economy only from the point of view of public expenditure. 

 He emphasised the necessity of a definite policy in regard to what the State ought 

 to be expected to provide for the people and what expenditure should come from 

 the private purse of the individual — a line of demarcation which has hitherto not 

 been clearly laid down. He gave the Post Office as one illustration of this point, 

 the letter postage being self-supporting, while the parcels post was assisted out of 

 the public funds ; and the education of the people as another, which, at one time 

 partly self-supporting, was now entirely free. After giving many reasons for his 

 opinion that too much financial support was expected from the State, he recom- 

 mended a return to older methods. He showed the leakage of money caused by 

 maladministration, instancing the Old Age Pensions and the National Insurance 

 Fund— both good schemes in themselves, but schemes which, because of their 

 having been framed so hastily and carried out so carelessly, had become a heavier 

 burden on the country than they should have done. In the case of Old Age 

 Pensions, Ireland, who looks on England as a cow to be milked, is allowed to give 

 these benefits broadcast to those who have means of support as well as those who 

 are deserving. And he showed how the National Insurance Fund overlapped 

 other societies, many cases being relieved by more than one institution. He 

 closed his address by speaking very firmly of the necessity of retrenchment in the 

 matter of Government salaries. Mr. Stewart, the Public Trustee, spoke only on 

 the subject of private economy, and made a strong appeal to individuals to spend 

 only on absolute essentials. Other points that were brought clearly to the front 

 were that the need for economy would be permanent so far as our generation is 

 concerned ; that it is imperative for us to think in terms of labour instead of 

 money ; and that we should individually resolve to help in causing the existing 

 markets for luxuries to be overstocked, thereby freeing much labour to be ultimately 

 diverted into more necessary channels. Only by strenuous and united exertion 

 along these lines will it be possible for the Allies to win the war. Germany, it was 

 stated, is now counting on the collapse of British endurance when the financial 

 strain touches the people individually ; therefore it is only the people individually 

 who can prove that what Germany considers a certainty will not occur. 



Research for Honours at Oxford 



The University Gazette of February 23 announces a statute which will be 

 welcome— to the effect that research carried out under the Professors of the 

 University of the Faculty of Natural Science will constitute a part of the examina- 

 tion for Honours in Chemistry in the University. With this change, the 

 examination will consist of two divisions, of which the first would be an examination 

 on the present lines, and the second part would require records of experimental 

 investigations. We do not know whether the proposal will receive ultimate 

 sanction ; but it is apparently already given effect to in several other universities. 

 For example, the Vice-Chancellor of Bristol University states {Times, February 26) 

 that the last of the three years of Honours study is mainly devoted to individual 

 researches, and that it is proposed to extend this requirement to the pass degree 

 as well. He adds that "The University Colston Society ... has for the past 

 five years raised a sum averaging upwards of ^500 a year, which is solely and 

 entirely applicable to defraying the expenses of researches carried on in the 

 University's laboratories. This form of university benefaction, which is, I think, 

 unique in England, is greatly to the credit of our city." 



