PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 21 



National research is that carried on by the Government for the 

 purpose of benefitting the people as a whole. Now it is plain 

 that between these three types of research there can be no sharp 

 lines of demarcation, but university research is often the step- 

 ping-stone to industrial advancement, while national research is 

 repeatedly industrial in its objects. 



Mr. Skinner rightly holds that the primary function of the 

 university in research should be the training of research men, 

 and that universities should be equipped to turn out research 

 men just as they are now equipped to turn out men with academic 

 and engineering degrees. Prof. G. G. Henderson, in the address 

 from which I have already quoted, laid down that the training 

 of the chemist, so far as that training can be given in a teaching 

 institution, must be regarded as incomplete unless it includes 

 some research work.* 



The demand for research in almost every field is growing 

 with a rapidity wholly unprecedented, and to the universities 

 alone can we look for men able and ready to take their places 

 in the strenuous efifort that is bound to be put forth on all hands. 

 We have just inaugurated a triple university system: Prof. Craw- 

 ford, in his presidential address to this Association at Maritz- 

 burg, asked and sought to answer what South Africa expects 

 from its universities, and referred, in particular, to the need of 

 encouraging the study of science and of furthering research. In 

 developing this theme he asked us to remember that the highest 

 form of research is not made to order, and that there is more 

 in genius than industry and opportunity. It would benefit us 

 to bear this in mind, and in juxtaposition with Prof. Crawford's 

 words, to place a sentence from Mr. Skinner's address : 



If it takes a genius to recognise a genius yet undeveloped, and 

 properly to stimulate and direct that geniusj liow necessary it is that we 

 place men of genius at the head of the research departments of our 

 universities. 



It comes to this, then : that we should see to it that our 

 universities are well equipped with scientific research workers, 

 and it is pre-eminently desirable that a system of research pro- 

 fessorships should be instituted, the chairs to be occupied by men 

 of enthusiasm — men who will inspire a like zeal and devotion 

 amongst those of the younger generation whom they gather 

 around them, men of personality and character, who will kindle 

 in the breasts of the research students feelings of admiration and 

 respect for them and their work. 



" In training research men," says Mr. Skinner again, " the 

 university will naturally become the custodian and the promoter 

 of pure scientific research." Here is the fountain-head whence 

 , we shall ultimately draw our men for industrial research, and 

 for national research ; how important, then, that the source of 

 all our supplies be of crystal purity! Whatever more utilitarian 



* Kept. Brit. Assoc, for Adv. of Science. Xe\vcastlc-on-'l"ync (i<)i6), 

 374- 



