Governmental Research 125 



The Research Council has been endeavouring to foster in the United 

 States the formation of somewhat similar co-operative scientific research 

 associations among several of the American industries, but to this date, 

 it would appear safe to say, with but indifferent success. It is perhaps 

 not too early to ask, why does the formation of such Research Associa- 

 tions readily succeed in Great Britain and apparently not in the United 

 States? Is it because of government initiative and support that they 

 are established so promptly in England and would they be eventually 

 in the United States if such support were forthcoming? Is it, that in the 

 United States the industries are already provided with all the research 

 assistance they need or can make use of? Or on the other hand, can it 

 be argued our industrial leaders are not yet convinced of the value of this 

 type of co-operative research? I do not venture to answer these ques- 

 tions, replies to which in the last analysis may be but a formulation of 

 underlying national characteristics; but possibly you in Canada by your 

 solution of the problem will help shed light that will aid us all. 



What has been the policy of the Government of the United States 

 toward scientific research and its applications to the industries of the 

 country? To put the question is to call forth immediately, what is 

 familiar to you all, the response that in many fields notably in the agri- 

 cultural sciences the Government has been the most generous of sponsors. 

 It is also supporting research in almost all domains of pure and applied 

 science from astronomy and mathematics to metallurgy and road con- 

 struction, and in many other branches than agricultural research it has 

 been the pioneer and still is the leader. Moreover, in recent years, there 

 has been a marked advance in governmental support of scientific research 

 fundamental to industry, particularly as exemplified by the Bureaus of 

 Mines and of Standards. 



So much has been written recently about the advantages, including 

 atmosphere, surroundings and status of research conducted under 

 university or institutional guidance on the one hand and in industrial 

 establishments on the other hand, and so little has been said — and silence 

 may appear to be more eloquent than speech under certain conditions — 

 of the advantages of research under governmental auspices, that it is 

 difficult to resist setting forth here some of the conditions, as I see them, 

 of research in a government department and of the position of the scien- 

 tific man in the government service. 



If government service, which we must remember is service for the 

 public, is so unattractive, as certain writers have intimated, why for 

 instance has the senior scientific stafif of the Bureau of Standards re- 

 mained nearly intact from its foundation some twenty years ago? There 

 must be some other than pecuniary advantage to account for this 



