558 
sponding reduction of 7283]. in cost of administration 
of this grant. 
So far as the administrative staff of the Board of 
Education is concerned, there seems to be little reduc- 
tion in numbers. Apparently the reduction in the cost 
of this service will depend mainly upon the fall in the 
index figure of the cost of living, since the bonuses on 
salaries are made with reference to it. One would 
think that in view of the extensive reductions in the 
grants to elementary and higher education, the estimate 
of 356,982/. for inspection and examination, not- 
withstanding a reduction of 26,06r/., is higher than 
necessary, and could be further reduced without 
serious detriment. With one important exception, 
reductions have been the rule rather than the ex- 
ception; the estimate for pensions to teachers is | 
2,400,0001., as against 1,860,000]. last year. This 
increase of 540,000]. was expected, and no doubt 
will be exceeded next year. With regard to this, of 
course, one must take into consideration the contri- 
bution of 5 per cent. of the teachers’ salaries. 
Under the head of Aid to Students, further reductions 
are noticeable. Last year there was a reduction of 
45001. in the sum allowed for scholarships, studentships, 
and exhibitions tenable at universities ; this year there 
is a further reduction of 2000/. Similarly for students 
at training colleges the total estimate for this year is 
119,170l., as compared with 137,095/. last year. The 
total reduction in the grant in aid of students is 19,982/., 
and this comes as a further reduction upon a drop of 
10,213/. last year. One cannot but feel uneasy at the 
withdrawal of 30,195/. in two years from a class of 
students, presumably deserving, but unable to afford 
the cost of a higher education. 
The estimates contain some interesting ‘“ Notes ” 
as to the further measures proposed for keeping down 
the cost of education. The Board of Education defines 
its attitude regarding the expenditure of local education 
authorities which will be recognised for purposes of 
grant. In 1922-23 this expenditure was not to exceed 
62,450,000], A later revision fixed the sum at 
60,595,000. This year the amount is limited to 
58,902,000/., and of this total not more than 300,000/. 
may be spent on the provision of meals. Higher 
education fares no better. The total expenditure by 
the local education authorities to be recognised by the 
Board of Education for 1923-24 must not exceed 
12,160,000/., as compared with 13,000,001. in 1922-23. 
This year, too, a clause is inserted in the Notes to the 
effect that the number of students recognised for grant 
under the Regulations for the Training of Teachers 
during the financial year 1923-24 is expected to be 
12,066, as compared with 12,640 in 1922-23. This 
reduction, it may be stated, is not due to a lack of 
NO. 2791, VOL. 111] 
NATURE 



[APRIL 28, 1923 
candidates coming forward, but to the policy adopted 
by the Board of reducing the number of those in 
training. : 
Turning now to the votes under the Treasury, we 
find that there are still furthersreductions. After the 
reduction of 19,157/. last year in the grant for scientific 
investigation, it is a little disquieting to find a further 
decrease of 1303/. this year. Similarly, the drastic 
reduction of 118,486/. last year in the vote for scientific 
and industrial research has been followed this year by 
the proposal of a further net reduction of 20,574l. 
It will be unfortunate if this reduction should hinder 
the progress of scientific research at a time when such 
research is most urgently needed. The grant in aid of 
universities and colleges is estimated at 1,169,000l., 
which is the same as last year. It will be remembered 
that in 1921-22 the grant from the Exchequer for the 
university institutions of the United Kingdom was 
1,500,000/. Although the present estimate is only for 
university institutions in Great Britain, the reduction 
for these bodies this year will be little short of 250,0001. 
At the same time it should be noted that other institu- 
tions (in particular, Oxford and Cambridge) and certain 
clinical units of the London Medical Schools have been 
since added to the list, and are now receiving substantial 
grants under this vote. It would seem that universities 
and colleges as a whole have been badly hit by the 
economies of the last two years. One can readily 
understand why those who believe in education, 
and particularly in higher education, are viewing 
with grave concern the present position. It would be 
little short of a national calamity if the opportunities 
for research or the development of university education 
in this country were to be restricted at the very time 
when they should be fostered and encouraged. 

Weights and Measures, with some 
Geophysics. 
A Dictionary of Applied Physics. Edited by Sir 
Richard Glazebrook. In 5 volumes. Vol. 3: 
Meteorology, Metrology, and Measuring Apparatus. 
Pp. vii+839. (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 
1923.) 63s. net. 
T would be difficult to over-estimate the value of 
the contents of this book, and our debt of gratitude 
to Sir Richard Glazebrook for having collected and 
edited the articles is very great indeed. A certain 
amount of the information contained is new, and prac- 
tically the whole of the remainder is inaccessible to the 
ordinary student. 
It is not easy to specify in a few words the subjects — 
treated, and the sub-title—meteorology, metrology, 
—" 
ik 
~ +) oie. | 
