June 27, 19 18] 



NATURE 



liTil 



and nothing be done to stimulate production at home, 

 and that the only thing that counted was to buy in the 

 ' heapest marlcet, prevailed here for_ far too long a 

 liod. This war has shattered our self-complacency 

 tlie application of this principle. People have learnt 

 a great deal more about business and understand 

 better what is in the national interest, and I hope a 

 different system is going to prevail in the future. 



In order to give vou evidence of the interest that 

 commercial bodies are taking, and have taken, in this 

 subject, I want to put before you a few facts. During 

 the last six months of 1915 I was chairman of the 

 Sub-Committee appointed by the Board of Trade to 

 take evidence from twelve minor industries which had 

 all been developed in this country in competition with 

 former German supplies. This report was issued to 

 Parliament and published in January, 19 16. The first 

 recommendations that we made were: — "That the 

 Committee thought that larger sums should be placed 

 at the disposal of the new Committee of the Privy 

 Council, and also with the Board of Education, for 

 the promotion of scientific and industrial research and 

 training, 



"That the universities (the old universities as well 

 as the new universities) should be encouraged to main- 

 tain and expand research work devoted to the needs 

 of the main industry or industries located in their 

 respective districts, and that the manufacturers en- 

 gaged in those industries should be encouraged to 

 co-operate with the universities in such work, either 

 through their existing trade associations or through 

 associations speciallv formed for the purpose. Such 

 associations should bring to the knowledge of the 

 universities the difficulties and needs of the industries, 

 and give financial and other assistance in addition to 

 that afforded by the city. ... 



" In the case of non-localised industries they should 

 be advised to seek, in respect of the centres of re- 

 search, the guidance of the Advisory- Council of the 

 Committee of the Privy Council for Scientific Re- 

 search." 



In the report we referred to evidence that was put 

 before us to the effect that certain universities are 

 taking up specific forms of research work. For 

 instance, Sheffield University has taken up the 

 subject of glass ; at Stoke-on-Trent they are dealing 

 witli pottery — hard porcelain, china, and earthenware; 

 and Manchester University is, I believe, equipping 

 itself for studies in connection with the paper trade. 

 I believe that we have got to specialise in the different 

 universities in research work which is interesting to 

 the trade in their localities, and prevent .1 great deal 

 of the overlapping which now exists. 



We followed this up at a meeting of the Associated 

 Chambers of Commerce, when mor^ than five hundred 

 delegates were present from all parts of the countrv. 

 We considered the development of industry after the 

 war, and passed unanimously this resolution: — 



"That His Majesty's Government be urged to 

 inquire into the desirability of fostering and safeguard- 

 ing those industries in this country which have since 

 the commencement of the war been engaged in the 

 manufacture of articles formerly made, to a large 

 extent, in enemy countries, or any industries which 

 have in the past suffered, seriously from German and 

 Austrian competition ; and further, for the develop- 

 ment of industries generally. His Majesty's Govern- 

 ment be urged to provide larger funds for the promo- 

 ^ tion of scientific research and training." 



In June of the same year the Imperial Council of 



Commerce, representing the Chambers of Commerce 



.. of the whole Empire, held meetings in London and 



passed the followin^j resolution : — "This .conference 



urges that throughout the Empire larger funds shall 



NO. 2539. VOL. lOl] 



be provided by the respective Governments 'in order 

 that the fullest facilities may be given for the promo- 

 tion of scientific research and training in their relation 

 to our commercial and industrial development." 



Before these meetings I went to Sir Alfred Keogh, 

 the head of the Imperial College of Science and 

 Technology in South Kensington, and suggested that, 

 seeing these matters of applied science and scientific 

 research were so prominently in men's minds in 

 chambers of commerce, not only in .Great Britain, but 

 also throughout the Empire, he should arrange for the 

 delegates to pay a visit to the Imperial College in 

 order to enable them to realise what is actually being 

 done there. He immediately agreed, and showed us 

 such of the work as was possible in a two hours' 

 visit, when we could have profitably spent two days 

 informing ourselves of the activities of this magnificent 

 college of science. I believe that out of those who 

 went, only three had ever been there before. A fact 

 that Sir Alfred Keogh stated to us made a great 

 impression ; it was that before the war there wer^ 

 only a thousand students at this college, and it could 

 quite easily hold two thousand. We ought to be 

 sending on students to a place like this from the 

 whole country, so long as there is an opening for 

 them. We should send them when they have 

 specialised in industrial subjects in order to broaden 

 their minds and increase their knowledge. Sir Alfred 

 stated : — " You will recognise, gentlemen, that the 

 industries of this country are not fullv alive to the 

 importance of science, nor are the academies suffi- 

 ciently aware of the importance of industries in the 

 educational programme." This, we were bound to 

 admit, was an accurate statement of the position. 



We are not the only nation that is taking steps in 

 the direction of promoting scientific research. The 

 LInited States are fully alive to the importance of 

 the matter, and are keeping thoroughly posted on all 

 steps taken l>ere. My experience there — and it is a 

 long one, being a manufacturer in America myself — 

 is that men who are looking to be heads of businesses 

 in the future spend far longer at universities and 

 technical colleges before going to their business than 

 we have been in the habit of doing in this country. 

 We have undoubtedly been remiss in this respect, but 

 I think that general sentiment is changing. 



We must realise that scientific research is one of 

 the most important questions that are coming before 

 us in the industrial reorganisation that will follow this 

 war. We must all be impressed bv this great factor : 

 that business conditions are not going to be the same 

 in this country' or in the world when this great war 

 is ov^r. The war will have to be paid for, and to do 

 so the production of everything, agricultural as well 

 as industrial, has got to be stimulated through all 

 agencies and by improved methods generally. Labour 

 will have to alter and relax all fooKsh and uneconomic 

 restrictions on output, and I believe in most cases 

 is prepared to do so : but at the same time employers 

 will have to scrap antiquated methods. They have ffot 

 to root out many old prejudices, and must realise 

 both the possibilities and responsibilities of their posi- 

 tion. Our methods have been wasteful in the past ; 

 there will be no room for waste in the future. Every- 

 thing must be turned to account and made the best 

 use of. The old idea that business consists only of 

 buying and selling to the best advantage, or in pro- 

 ducing by known methods only, is exploded. A know- 

 ledge of world-markets aiid of opportunities must be 

 more widely diffused and aooreciated. Industrial 

 organisation will orolviblv exist in larger units, afford- 

 ing greater opportunities for ability and the application 

 of scientific knowledge. The attainment of the maximum 

 production in industrv shoukl ho the great object of 



