SCIENCE, INDUSTRY, AND EDUCATION 



And certainly, abroad, one finds an existing impression, 

 which was confirmed by the experience of my recent and 

 interesting colonial tour, that the superior technical and 

 scientific knowledge of our foreign competitors is one 

 reason why our hitherto pre-eminent position in manu- 

 factures and commerce is so considerably threatened. . . . 

 They (the Government) are at present not inclined to 

 spend more money upon equipping the laboratories. It 

 is therefore to the liberality of the public that we must 

 look not only for money, but for presents in machinery 

 and necessary applicances." 



The sum voted by the Government for the Physical 

 Laboratory, an Institution second to none in its national 

 importance, was the very modest one of 13,000 for the 

 buildings and equipment, and an annual grant of 4000 x 

 for five years in aid of the expenses of conducting the 

 work of the Institution. It is therefore " to the liberality 

 of the public," as the Prince pointed out, " that we must 

 look not only for money, but also for presents of machinery 

 and other appliances." Several donations and gifts of 

 instruments have been received from private individuals 

 and from manufacturing firms, but much more money 

 will be needed if the Laboratory is to be in a position to 

 carry out adequately some only of the chief duties of such 

 a Government Institution ; especially the prosecutions of 

 scientific investigations, which require more uninterrupted 



1 This sum has now been raised to ^5500, and after April next will be 

 raised further to 6000 annually. (January 1906.) 



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