NA TURE 



481 



THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1921. 



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The Safeguarding of Research. 



THE fact that the Bill for the Safeguarding- 

 of Industries has passed its second reading 

 in the House of Commons has directed renewed 

 attention to the manner in which its provisions 

 will react on the prosecution of scientific research 

 in this country. It will be remembered that the 

 supply of scientific apparatus and chemicals was 

 the subject of a discussion in our correspondence 

 columns about a year ago, and we have received 

 many further letters showing the importance of 

 the question. In Nature for June 9, p. 457, at- 

 tention was directed to the formation of a com- 

 mittee of the British Science Guild to report upon 

 the matter. We hope that all our readers who 

 have knowledge of facts bearing on the problem, 

 or suggestions to offer, will give this committee 

 the benefit of their views. 



Our concern here is for the advancement of 

 scientific discovery, which is the only real basis 

 for the safeguarding of all industrial development. 

 For this reason we think that the point of view 

 of the user and consumer, more particularly that 

 of the worker in science, should receive chief 

 attention. Certain documents that have been 

 issued suggest rather that the interest of the 

 manufacturer is to be the primary consideration. 

 Although British men of science are undoubtedly 

 desirous of supporting the industries of their 

 country, even if they have to pay a somewhat 

 higher price for the goods, it is clearly their duty 

 to see to it that the main object of their work 

 does not suffer thereby. Great improvements have 

 been made in British laboratory ware, but there 

 are still difficulties in obtaining a sufficient supply 

 NO. 2694, VOL. 107] 



of apparatus and chemicals on which reliance can 

 be placed. 



Users would be saved no small waste of time 

 and receive encouragement in their purchase of 

 British goods if they knew .how far they could 

 really depend on these being what they profess 

 to be. Prof. Cohen's experience with propyl 

 alcohol, as given in Nature for March 3, p. 12, 

 is to the point here. It is not meant to imply 

 that even the best German chemicals are beyond 

 reproach, although some workers appear to be 

 under the impression that if they use Kahlbaum's 

 preparations no further control of purity is 

 needed. Excellent glass and porcelain is certainly 

 being made here, and our optical and electrical ap- 

 paratus is second to none. But the price is often 

 very high, and there are still uncertainties in the 

 uniformity of the supply. There appear to be no 

 difficulties in the manufacture of articles for 

 domestic use, and if manufacturers do not find it 

 worth while to put good workers on to scientific 

 apparatus, which has a comparatively small sale, 

 why do they not give it up? The suggestion has 

 been made that purchasers should return any un- 

 stamped glass ware, while payment might be 

 refused for goods the origin of which is not stated. 



The problem is to discover how best to enable 

 manufacturers to perfect their processes and to pro- 

 tect them from loss while this is being done. It is 

 superfluous to say that the great need is for more 

 and more research, and any legislation that tends 

 to remove the opportunity for this is to be depre- 

 cated. The manufacturers appear to dread the 

 competition of countries of which the currency 

 is depreciated. But it is to be noted that the Bill 

 applies to. Allied and neutral countries as well as 

 to Germany. Moreover, as was evident in the 

 discussion in the House of Commons, the opinion 

 of many competent speakers is that such com- 

 petition is exaggerated, and that in any case a 

 depreciated currency is of no real advantage in the 

 world markets, and will continue until normal 

 trade relations are restored. The bankers' mani- 

 festo points out that the only satisfactory way of 

 dealing with the situation is to allow ttade com- 

 plete freedom to develop on its own initiative. 

 Artificial attempts to remedy conditions that can 

 right themselves only by the greatest expansion 

 of trade in all directions delay any real solu- 

 tion. This is very far from saying that nothing 

 is to be done at all. The most effective way of 

 avoiding dumping is surely to aim at raising de- 

 preciated money value, rather than to restrict 

 trade by import duties. 



So far as makers of scientific apparatus are 



