258 Master Minds of Modern Science 



and Rider, and was chosen as principal technical witness 

 in the taking over of the National Telephone Company by 

 the Post Office, a very big and complicated transaction. 

 Millions of pounds of property had to be valued before it 

 could change hands. So began his connexion with the 

 Government. 



In the Great War Sir John was one of the five original 

 trustees appointed by the Army Council to form the 

 Metropolitan Munitions Board, and he was a member 

 of the very important Nitrogen Products Committee. 

 Nitrates, of course, were of the very greatest importance 

 for the making of explosives. Sir John is chairman of the 

 Electroculture Board. This branch of electrical work is 

 described in the chapter dealing with the career of Sir 

 Daniel Hall. 



In 1920 Sir John Snell became chairman of the Elec- 

 tricity Commission, and in this work he is still actively 

 engaged. 



