204 RESEARCH 



ECONOMICS 



The preliminary ventilation of questions of public 

 interest, upon which the Association may, and often 

 does, prepare the way for action, is clearly illustrated 

 by the committee work of the Section of Economics. 

 In its earliest years (before even the title of ' economic 

 science ' was accorded to it) it found matter for 

 inquiry in the collection of statistics relating to 

 railways and collieries, and of vital statistics, and 

 was instrumental in demonstrating the necessity of 

 adequate and systematic records in these connexions. 

 In 1872 a committee which included Stafford North- 

 cote, Adderley, Frankland, Leone Levi, Siemens, 

 Williamson, and Fairbairn, reported in favour of the 

 adoption of the metric system of weights and measures, 

 and ' it seems noteworthy that so influential a com- 

 mittee should have arrived at a definite conclusion, 

 without a greater result on public opinion and on 

 legislation.' * A committee reported in 1874 upon 

 the economic effects of trade unions, which later 

 occupied much of the attention of the section, down 

 to the years 1916-18, when a committee considered 

 the question of labour unrest, and made recommenda- 

 tions. It may be observed here that this was not 

 the only matter of paramount importance to the 

 nation which was investigated by committees of 

 the section during the war years, 1914-18, and after ; 

 we shall find other examples presently. 



In our first chapter we have quoted Brewster's 

 dissatisfaction at ' the unjust and oppressive tribute 



1 Sir Edward Brabrook, to whom the compiler's thanks are due 

 for valuable advice upon the activities of Section F in this and other 

 directions. 



