86 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS SECTION R. 



And if wc are to build an edilice consecrated to the future 

 progress of our race in this country, where, owi'^g to our native 

 poj^ulation, self-preservation itself demands efficiency and leader- 

 shij) means excellence, it is our bounden duty that the advance- 

 ment of science shall permeate the mass and be understanded of 

 the common people. Otir workmen, too, must drink of the 

 fountain, so that even routine o])erations may reflect scientific 

 skill, and the atmosphere of science otir domina "Cj. 



The realisation of our hopes is the mission of our youth, 

 and our assistance in the provision of the fullest means for its 

 achievement must be forthcoming in bounteous plenty. 



The rule of thumb artisan, who is merely waiting for the 

 whistle to blow, must givj place to the workman tra'ned to 

 direct his energy with innate and acqtiired skill, and nio:e espec- 

 ially with some knowledge of the ])hysical and chemical proper- 

 ties of the materials he employs. Conservatism, worship of 

 tradition, ignorance of the discoveries of modern science and 

 failure to apply them are grievous sins in workmen, and heinous 

 crimes in those who control and direct industry, and the country 

 which allows these weeds, not merely to exist, but oft-times to 

 flourish, is doomed to an early grave in the fellowship of nations. 



South Africa has been endowed beyond measure with rich 

 stores of useful minerals, and whilst these are being ex])loited, 

 she is dependent entirely on others to supply her most elementary 

 wants. Thoughtless criticism might saddle me with lack of a 

 due sense of j^roportion in that the economics of these possible 

 industries have leen left wholly out of consideration. In this 

 regard I maintain that the duty of a country is to its own people 

 and the primary necessity is to furnish, as far as it can do so. 

 its own immed ate recjuirements. South Africa is not nearly at 

 present as self-contained as is possible, and hence the necessity 

 for the establishment of cbemical industry in our midst is, in 

 every sense, a vital one. Private enterprise has to some extent 

 made a begninning, as illustrated by the success of the soap and 

 cement factories established within the last few years, but the 

 coal industry is still confined to the utilisation of the raw material 

 accompanied with the waste and loss of its most valuable bye- 

 ])roducts. I am well aware of the fact, that recentl}' an 

 ammonium suli)hate industry has been started in this })rovince, 

 but in this case also l)ye-])ro(lucts of considerable value will be 

 lost. 



There are two ])oints of view which make this ])artictilar 

 industry of supreme im])ortance — Inrstl}-, the defence of the 

 cotmtry ; and secondl}', conservation of its natural resources, 

 riienol, benzene and toluene are three of the most important 

 distillates obtained from coal tar, and apart from their own use 

 as motor fuels, when treated with nitric acid, these substances 

 yield on the one hand the highest explos.ves at present known, 

 and on the other hand the mother substances for the preparation 

 of dyes, drugs, and ])erfunie^. .Mucli has been heard since the 



