NOTES 123 



Farmer at short notice, dealt with the economic question, and the way in 

 which the Union could act. He spoke of the scandalously low salaries being 

 paid at the present time to scientific workers, both in Government estab- 

 lishments and by private firms, giving actual figures. These salaries would 

 be paid as long as people would take them. There must be organised protest 

 and where this failed action should be taken, not by strikes, but by the 

 professional method of the boycott of firms which underpaid their staffs. 

 This was legal only for a Trade Union, and accounted for the Union having 

 registered as such. The N.U.S.W. had considered a scale of minimum salaries 

 which they believed to be fair, and which they were attempting to establish. 

 He believed that such a policy loyally carried out would be successful ; but 

 it needed funds, a large membership, and an understanding with all sectional 

 bodies that there would be no undercutting. The Union had now members 

 all over the Empire, and its recent activities in connection with Income Tax 

 abatement had aroused widespread interests. It was not the only Union, 

 but the only " National Union " of workers in all branches of pure and 

 applied science, and it was anxious to establish relations with all bodies 

 representing sectional interests. 



Mr. Lobb, in moving a vote of thanks, said it was the object of the Union 

 to get representation on every body that controlled scientific work or workers, 

 and that the economic position would then achieve itself. 



Mr. Coates, seconding, emphasised the non-use of the strike by the Union, 

 and its approval of the boycott as the proper professional attitude for the 

 scientific worker where the employer was obdurate. (See also p. 127.) 



A Deputation to the Air Ministry 



We have only just been told that a private deputation, headed by Mr. 

 Bernard Shaw, and consisting of the Presidents of many learned Societies, 

 of the Mayors of watering-places, and members of the general public, waited 

 last year on Mr. Winston Churchill in his capacity as Air Minister. Mr. 

 Churchill was supported by the two Archbishops, the President of the Pub- 

 licans' Association, and others. Mr. Shaw pointed out that from the time 

 of Shakespeare, who declared that the rain rains every day, the British 

 weather had been bad ; but why, just during the years of the German air- 

 raids, had it been allowed to clear up so beautifully ? Then, shortly after 

 our gallant airmen had put a stop to the raids in May 191 8, it immediately 

 thickened again, so that for six months after October 191S the people of 

 London literally scarcely saw the sun a dozen times, and really lived under 

 an incessant and oppressive pall of gloom. If the sky ever cleared, it was 

 only at night, and next morning the old hideous procession of dripping 

 vapours was sure to begin again. The ancient tag that — 



" The Briton's mind, you'll often find. 

 Is, like his climate, groggy ; 

 For when it's dull it's very very dull. 

 And when it's fine it's foggy " — 



was justified, for when the barometer rose for a day or two a mist would 

 immediately spring up from the earth. The old religious exclamation," By'r 

 Lady ! " was the only one which in his opinion covered the situation. The 

 Archbishop said he was glad that Mr. Shaw could quote Scripture, but that 

 he felt sure his etymology was faulty ; and Mr. ChurchUl assured them 

 that Mr. McLeod Foggarty, the clerk in charge of that department, had 

 always done his best. That gentleman then explained with diagrams how 



