NOTES 467 



to results which are sufficient to warrant the setting up by the 

 Government of a central controlling organisation. 



Prof. Cole's address to the Geological Section (C) dealt with 

 the thermal weakening of the foundations of the earth-crust 

 and the consequences which would be involved from such sub- 

 terranean changes ; the dragging movements of a mobile 

 Untergrund ; possible catastrophic breaks in the slow con- 

 tinuity of earth-movements as evidenced in the mountain-build- 

 ing periods and regional subsidence ; abrupt geographical 

 changes such as river capture. Behind all our orderly observa- 

 tions of to-day is the earth itself, quiescent it may be, but by 

 no means in the sleep of death. Some day, in its due season, 

 the earth will once more be active, with an activity with which 

 human ingenuity will be powerless to cope. 



Prof. Minchin's discourse to the Section on Zoology (D), 

 unfortunately not delivered by himself through illness which 

 has since proved fatal, was concerned with reconstructing the 

 steps in the evolution of the cell, and for this purpose the study 

 of the Protista was recommended. Cell evolution has probably 

 taken place amongst the Protista. The fundamental import- 

 ance of the chromatinic constituents of the cell in the evolu- 

 tionary scheme was emphasised, for they alone of all cell ele- 

 ments persist throughout the life-cycles of organisms universally. 

 Further, they possess specific individualisation and physio- 

 logical predominance, especially in constructive metabolism. 



Major Lyons made a strong appeal to the members of the 

 Geographical Section (E) for more scientific and quantitative 

 research by individuals in the many branches of the subject. 

 The need of this throughout was made very clear, and the 

 president pointed out how geographers can promote a real 

 advance of their science if they will only prosecute seriously 

 research in any of the many subjects which are readily accessible 

 to all. Most of the data which has been collected is merely 

 descriptive and lacks proper scientific accuracy, and there is a 

 tendency to make broad generalisations of doubtful exactitude. 



Dr. Hele-Shaw was highly critical in his address to the 

 Engineering Section (G). The urgent needs of the present 

 situation were uppermost in his mind throughout, calling for 

 immediate and determined co-operation with the authorities. 

 Education, standardisation, the metric system, exhibitions and 

 museums, patents and patent laws, and co-operative organisation 



