NATURE 
589 


SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1923. 

CONTENTS. 
Broadcasting and Wireless Licences 
Biology in Utopia. ByJ.S.H.  . ; - P 
Linnean Correspondence.” By B. D. J. . 5 z 
Technology of Oils and Fats. By E. F. A. 3 
Our Bookshelf . ° : . : : 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Hafnium and New Zealand Sand.—Dr. Alexander 
Scott, F.R.S. . < : é c : 
A Meteorological Disturbance of an Oscillatory 
Character. (With Diagram.) Prof. W. 
Duffield . ‘ 
Phosphorescence caused by Active Nitrogen. —Prof. 
P. Lewis . 
Active Hydrogen by the Action of an 1 Acid on a 
Metal.—Prof. A.C. Grubb. “ 
The Viscosity of Liquids.—Prof. C. V. Raman . 
Green and Colourless Hydra. — Prof. Sydney J. 
Hickson, F.R.S. . 
Single Crystals of Aluminium and other Metals. 
(Zélustrated.) Dr. C. J. Smithells 
Stirling’s Theorem.—H. E. Soper F 
po and Segregation.—Prof. Arthur Willey, 
Distribution of Megalithic Monuments. —O. G. S. 
Crawford 
The Surface Mfowements of the Earth’ s Crit: (wie 
Diagrams.) By Prof. J. Joly, F.R.S. . 
Water-Power in the British ees (Mustrted. 
By Theodore Stevens 
Obituary :— 
Prof. J. D. van der Waals. By Prof. H. 
Kamerlingh Onnes, For. Mem. R.S.  . 
Dr. Arthur Latham . 
Current Topics and Events . : . ° 
Our Astronomical Column - 5 : : s 
Research Items : . . 
The Total Eclipse of ‘dts Sn, Seckeeataes 21, 1922. 
(With Diagram.) By Dr. William J. S. sre ate 
Alloys Resistant to Corrosion . - P 
University and Educational Intelligence 
Societies and Academies . . 
_ Official Publications Received . q } ; , 
: 
Diary of Societies . 
598 
599 


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NO. 2792, VOL. 111 | 
Broadcasting and Wireless Licences. 
HE wireless licence problem has for some time 
been engaging the attention of the Post Office 
authorities, and acute differences appear now to have 
arisen between the Postmaster-General and the British 
Broadcasting Company as to the conditions under 
which licences may be issued to amateurs who either 
own home-made wireless sets or desire to build up 
such sets. Matters have been brought to a head by 
the present Postmaster-General refusing to impose 
upon amateurs restrictions which the British Broad- 
casting Company claims it has a right, under its 
agreement with the Post Office, to insist upon. The 
Postmaster-General made a statement in the House 
of Commons on April 19 on the situation that has, in 
consequence, come to pass: he then informed the 
House that negotiations had taken place on the licence 
question between himself and the Company, and that 
the latter had suggested that the Post Office issue 
to the home-constructor a licence, without any clog, at 
20s., of which 15s. was to go to the Company. This 
proposal was promptly declined by the Postmaster- 
General. Then, in the course of further negotiations, 
the Company expressed its willingness to permit the 
PostjOffice to issue to amateurs a licence at tos., of 
anich one-half was to go to the Company, but such 
licencewas to be subject to the clogging provision 
' that it should alone be issued to those home-con- 
sttuctors who either own, or propose to build up, 
listening-in sets with parts of “ B.B.C.” manufacture. 
This proposal has also proved unacceptable to the 
Postmaster-General. 
It was perhaps inevitable, in view of the terms and 
conditions contained in the agreement entered into 
between the Post Office and the British Broadcasting 
Company, and of the provisions in the articles of 
association of the Company, that the present trouble 
should have arisen. Neither the Post Office authorities 
nor those responsible for the promotion of the British 
Broadcasting Company appear to have appreciated 
correctly certain psychological aspects of the wireless 
situation from the point of view of a large and important 
section of those interested in that field. The subject, 
it may be remembered, was well ventilated at the 
time that the provisional committee representing the 
promoters of the British Broadcasting Company was 
carrying on its preliminary negotiations in the autumn 
of last year. It should, therefore, have been clear 
to the Postmaster-General of the day, his advisers, 
and the promoters of the Company, that many con- 
flicting interests were involved and that the greatest 
caution was needed in handling what was undoubtedly 
a difficult problem (see Nature for August 19 and 
