ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY 85 
of the laboratory, and they lay down the general lines on which investi- 
gations are to goon. It would appear to be desirable that the government 
of the enlarged Institution should be in the hands of a Committee 
appointed either as now by the Royal Society alone or in conjunction 
with one or more of the chief scientific bodies in the country. But it is 
to be hoped that in addition to this Council of Advice the immediate 
executive and initiative power would vest in a paid chief or Director of 
the utmost eminence attainable. Unless such an appointment were 
made, either an altogether unfair amount of work would be thrown upon 
some members of the governing committee, of the institution would fail 
to rise to the highest usefulness. 
The present accommodation at Kew Observatory is quite insufficient 
for the proposed extension of its work ; and to carry out the idea suggested 
will require increased space, increased buildings, and increased staff. 
There would probably be no difficulty in obtaining from the Govern- 
ment an extension of space out of the park at Richmond ; but the pro- 
posal would entail an expenditure of money for new buildings. It would 
be unfortunate if such expenditure had to be taken from the small fund 
which Parliament allots to scientific research under the Royal Society, but 
there can be little doubt that when a satisfactory scheme has been 
elaborated it will not be unreasonable to ask the Government to assist 
in providing the necessary buildings. 
Additions to buildings require much consideration, and, therefore, as 
a preliminary to any action a small committee might be asked to draw up 
a detailed scheme, with the aid of an architect, for an extension of Kew 
Observatory, having regard to the site and to utilising the present 
erections upon it. 
Since it is difficult to foresee the direction in which a rapidly growing 
subject like Physics may develop, it is probably wisest to begin with 
buildings of an adaptable and not too elaborate character, and to stock 
them with but a moderate supply of the best available apparatus. In 
such a subject as Physics a large annual maintenance grant is more 
useful than an extravagant initial equipment which might speedily 
become antiquated. We would suggest to those whose business it may 
be hereafter to approach the Government that some such sum as 20,0000. 
or 25,0007. would serve to erect a building sufficient for all immediate 
necessities, and that posterity may be left to increase it as need arises. 
A sum of 5,000/. would provide a fair amount of initial instrumental 
equipment of a permanent kind, and the rest should be met out of an 
annual grant. 
The commercial testing department may be considered self-supporting, 
but for secular research and the determination of constants considerable 
expense would be entailed. This would fall under the heads of salaries, 
new apparatus, maintenance, warming, lighting, and taxes. 
We propose that the head of this National Laboratory should receive 
1,200/. a year, and we estimate that an annual grant, in addition to the 
sum at present expended, of 5,000/. per annum, and an initial expenditure 
of 30,0007. for buildings and equipment, would do all that is essential to 
carry out the scheme in a wise and worthy manner. 
