March 9, 19 16] 



NATURE 



39 



of the .proposed institute, by which, as consis- 

 tently advocated in our columns, the balance of 

 power is placed in the hands of men of science. 

 We are fortunate in being able to publish this 

 valuable report. 



I. — Introduction. 



The committee appointed in pursuance of the motion 

 set out above met in the Cabinet Room, Common- 

 wealth Offices, on January 6, 7, 8, 12, and 13, igi6. 



The committee, in formulating the following 

 scheme, has been greatly impressed with the mag- 

 nitude and the possibilities of the proposals made by 

 the Prime Minister, and is strongly of opinion that 

 the time has arrived for initiating the extensive 

 ! scheme of scientific research work in connection with 

 industr}' which he has outlined. 



The committee is convinced that the results of 

 properly conducted investigations into many of the 

 subjects referred to in his address will amply repay 

 considerable expenditure and fully justify a bold and 

 comprehensive policy being adopted. Not only will 

 the results be a greatly increased productivity and out- 

 put in many directions — in both primary and secondar}' 

 industries — but the stimulus generally given to scien- 

 tific research in relation to our industries will exert a 

 powerful influence on our educational institutions 

 and bring them and the industrial community to realise 

 the commercial value of science more fully than 

 hitherto. In fact, the initiation of the scheme will, in 

 the opinion of the committee, go far to inaugurate a 

 new era in the economic and industrial life of the 

 Commonwealth. 



The proposals which follow will provide for the 

 formation of a Commonwealth Institute of Science and 

 Industry under the control of directors of the highest 

 business and scientific attainment, acting with the 

 advice and co-operation of a council representing 

 science and the primarj- and secondarj' industries of 

 Australia. 



1 1 . — Recommendations. 



(i) There should be established under Act of Parlia- 

 ment a Commonwealth Institute of Science and In- 

 dustr}-. 



(2) The functions of the institute should be : — 



(i) To consider and initiate scientific researches in 

 connection with, or for, the promotion of primary 

 or secondary industries in the Commonwealth. 



(ii) The collection of industrial scientific information 

 and the formation of a bureau for its dissemination 

 amongst those engaged in industry. 



(iii) The establishment of national laboratories. 



(iv) The general control and administration of such 

 laboratories when established. 



(v) To promote the immediate utilisation of exist- 

 ing institutions, whether Federal or State, for the pur- 

 poses of industrial scientific research. 



(vi) To make recommendations from time to time 

 for the establishment or development of special insti- 

 tutions or departments of existing institutions for the 

 scientific study of problems affecting particular indus- 

 tries and trades. 



(vii) The establishment and award of industrial re- 

 search studentships and fellowships, to include either 

 travelling fellowships or fellowships attached to par- 

 ticular institutions. 



(viii) To direct attention to any new industries which 

 might be profitably established in the Commonwealth. 



(ix) To keep in close touch with, and seek the aid of, 

 all Commonwealth and State Government Depart- 

 ments, learned and professional societies, and private 

 enterprises concerned with, or interested in, saentific 

 industrial research. 



(x) The coordination and direction of scientific in- 



NO. 2419, VOL. 97] 



vestigation and of research and experimental work 

 j with a view to the prevention of undesirable over- 

 i lapping of effort. 



I (xi) To advise the several authorities as to the steps 

 j which should be taken for increasing the supply of 

 I workers competent to undertake scientific research. 

 j (xii) To recommend grants by the Commonwealth 

 j Government in aid of pure scientific research in exist- 

 • ing institutions. 



j (xiii) To seek from time to time the co-operation of 

 I the educational authorities and scientific societies in 

 : the States with a view of advancing the teaching of 

 I science in schools, technical colleges, and universities, 

 I where its teaching is determined upon by those authori- 

 I ties. 



I (xiv) To report annually and from time to time to 

 1 Parliament. 



(3) The committee gave careful attention to the 

 relation between the proposed institute and the exist- 

 ing Commonwealth Laboratory. It was recognised 



\ that the daily routine of Customs, naval and military 

 ; Stores, and other departments requires the perform- 

 ance of a great deal of important scientific work, par- 

 ticularly chemical analysis of material, and that the 

 laboratories in which such routine scientific work is 

 I carried out must necessarily remain under depart- 

 : mental control, though they might with advantage be 

 co-ordinated and their equipment increased. On the 

 ; other hand, as the work of the proposed institute 

 1 develops there will be an increased scope for work 

 ; in national laboratories devoted to special brancties 

 I of research and experimental inv-estigation which aie 

 j not otherwise provided for. Such laboratories and 

 ! their scientific staffs should, in the committee's 

 I opinion, be kept distinct and placed under the control 



of the institute. 

 I In the future it will be necessarj' to undertake 

 I experimental work in connection with the growth of 

 I our naval and military defence, the testing of materials 

 with regard to the physical reasons underlying dete- 

 I rioration and change of structure due to mechanical 

 and heat treatment, and as to failure in operation 

 under varying conditions, the testing and tn^ing out 

 of processes in connection with the metallurgical 

 industry and biological and geological problems. 

 [ The highly specialised intricate work of standardis- 

 ing electrical instruments and other scientific appa- 

 ratus for use as substandards by different Government 

 departments and other institutions in which research 

 work may be carried on would also naturally fall 

 I within the functions of the institute. 

 : A convincing reason for drawing a line of distinction 

 I between laboratories primarily for scientific research and 

 j laboratories primarily for the necessary routine work 

 of departmental testing is that any attempt to combine 

 the two would lead to confusion and hamper and 

 weaken both branches of activity, and would tend to 

 drown the research work for which the institute is 

 being created. 



It cannot be too strongly insisted that the qualifica- 

 tions of a staff for " researching " are different in char- 

 acter from those of a staff which is to carrj' out 

 scientific routine testing. 

 The committee therefore recommends that : — 



(a) The control of the present Commonwealth labora- 

 tories be not disturbed, but that they be co-ordinated, 

 their staff increased, and their equipment improved. 



(b) Any new national laboratories which may be 

 created for special purposes of research and experi- 

 mental inquiry, including a physical laboratorv for 

 testing and standardising purposes, should be controlled 

 by the institute. 



(4) With rep-ard to the constitution of the institute the 

 committee passed the following resolutions : — 



