PKi:sii»i:.N riAi. addkkss — .si-:c:th)N w. >y_^ 



U) a goinl tcchnoloi^ical ami scicntilic lil)rary i^ re(|uirL'(l, and 

 then to carry out, after complete analyses of the raw materials 

 have been made, such tests on a small scale as will give some 

 clue to the difficulties to be encountered on the large scale, for 

 which ])urj)ose the establishment of a ]iroperly e(iuii)ped labora- 

 tory is indis])ensable. If these meet with success, and the in- 

 dustry is undertaken, the laboratory can be utilised to aid the 

 engineer in selecting the best materials of construction, until 

 such time as it is necessary for controlling the daily routine. 

 At the same time, it should serve as an instrument of research 

 with a view to improving methods of daily control, methods of 

 manufacture, and also the discovery of new methods or processes. 

 Whether any or all of the functions be efficiently performed 

 <.lepends on the equipment and staff of the laboratory, but more 

 especially on the man, who is 'the head. Routine operations soon 

 become to a certain extent standardised, and can be carried out 

 efficiently by well-trained assistants, but research work of the 

 beneficial kind can only be effectively performed by the head 

 of the laboratory in touch with every ])hase of the manufactur- 

 ing process, or by chemists specially appointed for this purpose 

 working independently. The value of the work done will mani- 

 fest itself in the smooth working of the process of manufacture 

 and the sales of the finished product, when compared under com- 

 mercial conditions with its competitors. It will also be of great 

 assistance to the engineer in the control of his supplies, especially 

 fuel. It is difficult, if not impossible, to assess the value of such 

 a laboratory in pounds, shillings and pence, but on the other hand 

 in a few instances, where they have been installed in this country, 

 they have rendered invaluable assistance and made for efficiency. 



It is not my intention here to enter U])on the other i^hases 

 of the organisation, as they are in most respects common to all 

 industries, and hence are well known. The sad aspect of the si^ecial 

 cases with which we are concerned here is, that it has hitherto 

 })een considered sufficient for these industries to employ business 

 men and engineers alone, all excellent in their own lines. l)ut 

 (|uite unfitted to govern an industry, whose fundamental basis 

 is a chemical process. This, in fact, is one of the chief reasons 

 why England lost her su])remacy and was outstripped by Ger- 

 many, and the appreciation of this fact at the present moment 

 by the Americans is manifesting itself in a keen endeavour to 

 take the lead. 



Another reason is. that Germany has appreciated to the full 

 ^he value of scientific research and education, and it is neces- 

 sary for us to realise this m like measure, if we are to utilise 

 efficiently the abundance of raw material found in this country. 

 We have seen above in the case of one industry the vast sums 

 of money they were willing to spend to effect its capture, and 

 this was strictly in keeping with their general policy, both on 

 tthe part of the State and the individual. That the Empire is 

 beginning at last to appreciate this is shown by the steps being 

 taken in England. Canada, and Australia. Little has, as yet. 



