Science in Public Affairs 



by trained minds, neither trammelled by depart- 

 mental habit and tradition nor immersed in poli- 

 tical discussion, how much more is this the case 

 with our vast over-sea problems, involving as they 

 do the interests and the circumstances of great 

 populations remote from our knowledge. A fresh 

 eye on Imperial administration is a constant neces- 

 sity the advice and scrutiny of men who are 

 fitted by scientific training to appreciate problems 

 which often lie below that surface to which un- 

 informed common-sense has access, and which 

 cannot receive the completest treatment when 

 they are left to be dealt with as matters of official 

 routine. 



If it be recognised that, in the growing com- 

 plexity of life, administrative problems are less 

 and less of the simple sort which can be adequately 

 solved by rule of thumb, it is scarcely possible to 

 argue that the provision of scientific guidance for 

 administration can be safely left to the chance 

 efforts of irresponsible private persons. 



It must be the duty of chosen men to offer, 

 and the duty of responsible ministers to con- 

 sider, advice on the great topics of national and 

 Imperial welfare. Responsibility for administra- 

 tive action can never be removed from govern- 

 ment, from Parliament, and from the nation itself ; 

 but to take, or to neglect, action, without the best 

 counsel and consideration that can be found, is a 

 responsibility that should be felt to be too great. 



Wisdom is the beginning of efficiency. Science 

 in its widest sense is essential to the commonwealth 



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