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182 ‘TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE [voL. x1 
effected by the divergent commercial interests of individuals and Governments, and the 
wide separation in space and the great diversity of the components of the British Empire, 
are still material considerations of which full account must be taken in thinking of any 
scheme for unified administration. 
6. The Committee of Council, however, believe that even at the present time, when 
the energies of the Empire are so pre-occupied by the war, it is not only possible but 
very desirable to make an advance in the direction suggested by the Governments of 
Victoria and New South Wales. v 
It may not be possible during the war to undertake, either at home or in the Over- 
seas Dominions, any researches involving the concerted work of a large number of 
trained researchers, or the provision of extensive plant and equipment. On the other 
hand, the Committee of Council are more than ever convinced that during the war it is 
essential to prepare and test, if only ona relatively small scale, an organisation by which 
the scientific resources of the Empire can be mobilised on a large scale immediately the 
war is over. The success of anything like an Imperial Scheme of Research must ultim- 
ately depend at least as much upon the skill, foresight, and care with which it is managed 
as upon the zeal and goodwill of the Governments, universities, and industries which 
co-operate in it; and it would be very imprudent to wait until the demand has become 
heavy and urgent in the hope of then improvising a satisfactory system of management. 
7. The Committee, therefore, suggest that if the general proposal commends itself, 
each Overseas Government which is willing to enter into a co-operative arrangement 
should, as a first step and at an early date, constitute some body or agency having 
functions analogous to those of the Advisory Council which acts for the United Kingdom. 
The Committee of Council have, of course, no intention of suggesting that the 
particular arrangement adopted for the United Kingdom should be taken as a model 
by other parts of the Empire. The Committee of Council as originally constituted 
consists of six Ministers ex-officio and three ex-Ministers. This body is ultimately 
responsible for asking Parliament to furnish the necessary funds and for approving their 
expenditure. It is an essential part of the scheme that all proposals for research shall 
stand referred to an Advisory Council which is a relatively small body, mainly consisting 
of eminent scientific men and men actually engaged in industries dependent upon 
scientific research, and that this Council shall take full responsibility for the scientific 
and technical soundness of all research proposals recommended by them for State 
assistance. 
In the case of the Overseas Dominions the precise relation of any new body or agency 
to the Central or the State or Provincial Government, or to a particular Ministry, must 
obviously depend on local conditions and local preferences. It is, of course, assumed 
that it would be supported by the resources and influence of the Ministry of Commerce, 
as in the United Kingdom the resources and influence of the Board of Trade are available 
for working the scheme of research in its commercial and industrial relations. 
The Committee of Council, however, venture to lay stress upon two points. First, 
any bodies or agencies instituted for the purpose should, under their respective Govern- 
ments, have really responsible functions and substantial authority. The several bodies, 
moreover, should be at liberty to communicate freely with one another, and should 
within the limits of the funds placed at their disposal, be empowered to negotiate with 
one another for the formation and execution of schemes of research. Secondly, a close 
connection should be maintained between these bodies and the public educational 
systems and institutions of their respective countries It is obvious that the work 
of Universities and other institutions for advanced scientific and technological education 
will both affect and be affected by a State system of research, and that the systematic 
To as) 
