NATIONAL GILDS: A HL\T TOWARDS 

 RECONSTRUCTION. 



By R. T. A. Innks. F.R.A.S., F.R.S.E. 



{Precis.) 



The author takes as his texts Mr. Lloyd George's injunction 

 to " Think out new ways, think out new methods, think out even 

 new ways of deahng- ^ith old problems and get a really new 

 world," and President \\'ilson's words. '* Congress has provided 

 that the "' Nation shall be classified for service in order to place 

 men in tliat position which shall best serve the common good. 

 The significance of such a ste]) cannot be overestimated ; it is a 

 new thing in history and a landmark in our progress." 



He urges that scientific men, by their training and critical 

 attitude of mind, are not only fitted to, but should, take an active 

 part in the policies of reconstruction. He asserts that society 

 is gravitating towards either a " servile State " or state composed 

 of " National Gilds." to the latter of which his own preference 



IS given. 



It is suggested that a Census of Requirements should be 

 made annually, and that production should first of all be bent on 

 the supply of all the requirements of the community in the way 

 of food, housing, clothing, sanitation, etc., etc. ; and that a state 

 arranged on such a logical principle will evade or shelve the 

 trouble between Ca])ital and Labour. 



Research Grants. — The following grants in aid of 

 research have been awarded by the Council of the Royal Society 

 of South Africa: — To Prof. M. Rindl, (irey University College, 

 Bloemfontein, £35 for the chemical investigation of some toxic 

 and medicinal South African i)lants ; to Mr. J. S. van der Lingen, 

 South African College. Capetown, £40 for continuation of 

 researches in radiology ; to Prof. L T. Morrison, A'ictoria College, 

 Stellenbosch, iioo for investigation of earth-tides; to Prof. S. J. 

 Shand, \'ictoria College, Stellenbosch, £35 for a study of the 

 alkaline igneous rocks of the Transvaal ; to Prof. G. Potts, Grey 

 University College, Bloemfontein, £25 for a botanical survey of 

 certain areas of the Orange Free State; to Mr. K. H. Barnard, 

 South x\frican Museum. Ca])etown, £32 los. for the collection of 

 terrestrial and fresh-water Crustacea ; and to Prof. J. \\'. Bews, 

 Natal University College, Maritzburg, £32 los. for research on 

 the plant successio:! in the grass veld of South Africa. 



