270 
Roberts’s paper the gaseous explosions committee 
pap eS Pp 
of the British Association. The alloys research 
committee of the Institute of Mechanical Engin- 
eers; the newly established research committee 
of the electrical engineers; the reinforced concrete 
committee of the civil engineers; or the Govern- 
ment Advisory Committee for Aéronautics, are all 
instances. For the success of such committees 
three things are needed—a man or men to carry 
out the research, a laboratory or works with 
proper equipment for the experiments, and funds 
to defray the expenses. 
Prof. Hopkinson did well in the discussion at 
Cambridge to direct attention to the individuality 
of research. Much—everything—depends on the 
man, and he must have freedom. The committee 
may specify the objects of the inquiry, and indicate 
in general terms the methods to be followed, but 
no real result will ensue unless the investigator 
has ideas of his own, and, after the suggestions 
laid before the committee are approved, is free 
to carry them out. 
The gaseous explosions committee owes its suc- 
cess to Dugald Clerk and Hopkinson; the alloys 
research committee to Roberts-Austin, Carpenter, 
and Rosenhain; while the work of the Advisory 
Committee for Aéronautics would lose nearly all 
its value were it not for the energy and devotion 
of the staff of the National Physical Laboratory. 
Engineering research—technical research, in- 
deed, of all kinds—differs, however, from much 
scientific research in that it can be organised. 
The problems proposed are usually fairly definite. 
What are the properties of a certain series of 
alloys? How are they modified by temperature, 
forging, annealing, and the like? Do the results 
of impact tests depend on the form and dimension 
of the specimen? What is the exact series of 
changes of temperature and pressure in the 
cylinder of a gas-engine? How are the forces 
and couples on an aéroplane related to its aspect 
to the wind? The problems may be difficult, the 
answers may elude inquiry; but, given the man, 
the laboratory, and the funds, a committee meet- 
ing at intervals to discuss the results of the 
experiments may reasonably hope in time to meet 
with success. 
Sir Frederick Donaldson and his colleagues 
have raised questions of great interest and im- 
portance, well worth the careful consideration of 
those engaged in bringing the results of scientific 
inquiry to bear on the problems of manufacture 
and construction. 
HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE STATE. 
ORD HALDANE had something important 
to say upon the subject of provision for 
higher education in the course of his speech at 
the opening of the new buildings of the depart- 
ment of applied science of the University of 
Sheffield on Saturday last. An account of his 
address will be found elsewhere in this issue, but 
we are more particularly interested in a summary 
of the main points, communicated by him to 
NO. 2296, VOL. 92| 
NATURE 
[OcTOBER 30, 1913 
representatives of the Press. Lord Haldane ex- 
plained that he desired it to be realised fully that 
he was announcing the considered decisions of 
the Cabinet upon the subject of university educa- 
tion, and was indicating the policy to be followed. 
The substance of his remarks was expressed as 
follows :— 
The main features of the Board of Education’s 
scheme are a recognition of the great strides being 
made in university education by the United States and 
Germany, and an intention to maintain closely the 
connection between pure science and applied science 
and to check any tendency on the part of any of the 
younger universities to cultivate the latter at the 
expense of the former. Theory and practice must 
keep together. Men of business must remember that 
much of what is distinctive in the inventive and indus- 
trial genius of this country comes from theoretical 
sources, 
Unless we wake up fully about this matter of educa- 
tion, and particularly higher education, I am a little 
nervous as to what the state of things with regard to 
our industrial supremacy will be fifteen or twenty years 
hence. 
The nation will have to make up its mind to give 
considerably more out of central funds. The plans 
for these advances are now fashioned. I hate any 
idea of increasing expenditure, whether out of local 
or national sources, if it can be avoided. But this 
cannot be avoided. It is salvage money, and unless 
you spend it you will go back as a nation, and your 
revenues by which you keep up your fleets and your 
armies will begin to shrink, because you will not be 
holding your own in that great industrial position 
from which your power and your wealth have come. 
We have now, therefore, a definite statement 
of the position which university work is to take 
in the national scheme of education adumbrated 
by various Ministers since the beginning of this 
year. There is a clear acknowledgment of the 
fact that in the matter of State provision for 
higher education we have not kept pace with other 
progressive nations; that scientific work which 
has no industrial interest is as important as that 
of which the direct application can be seen; that 
national advancement can be secured best by in- 
crease of scientific knowledge; and that all these 
things involve contributions from the national 
exchequer greatly in excess of those hitherto given. 
Readers of Nature scarcely need reminding that 
the policy thus broadly outlined has been urged 
consistently and persistently in these columns. 
Ten years ago, Sir Norman Lockyer, in his presi- 
dential address to the British Association at 
Southport, gave the evidence from which each_one 
of the points mentioned by Lord Haldane 
could be justified; and since then, year by year, 
particulars have been given in the reports of the 
British Science Guild of the progress being made 
in the endowment of higher education and research 
abroad, in comparison with the position in this 
country. It was shown, for instance, in the last 
report of the Guild, that the total receipts of 
universities in the United States in the year 1910— 
1911 amounted to nearly nineteen million pounds, 
and the benefactions to four and a half millions. 
In the same year, the total receipts of those uni- 
versities and university colleges in Great Britain 
