372 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION B. 



Under the first head the proposed Department would have the duty (n) of 

 collecting, tabulating, and distributing all possible information regarding 

 chemical discoveries, patents, and manufacturing processes, and (b) of present- 

 ing problems for investigation to research chemists, of course under proper 

 safeguards and with suitable remuneration. The more strictly commercial 

 side of the Department's activities would be concerned with the classification of 

 the resources of the Empire as regards raw materials, and of foreign chemical 

 products in respect of distribution throughout the world, with ruling pricey, 

 tariffs, cost of transport, and if possible cost of production. On the educa- 

 tional side it is suggested that the Dejoartment should collect data regarding 

 opportunities for chemical instruction and research in various parts of the 

 Empire, and should consider possible improvements and extensions of these. 

 The Department would of course be in charge of a highly trained chemist, 

 with a sufficient number of chemical assistants. 



This proposal, which has been widely discussed and on the whole very 

 favourably received by chemists, has much to recommend it; to mention only 

 one point, the unrivalled resources of the Board of Trade would facilitate 

 the acquisition of information which might otherwise be difficult to obtain, or 

 which would not be disclosed except to a Government Department. The 

 principal objections which have been raised are based upon the fear that the 

 pi'oposed Department, however energetic and enterprising it might be at the 

 start, would soon be so helplessly gagged and bound down by departmental red 

 tape as to become of little or no service. This danger, however, could be 

 obviated to a great extent by the institution of a strong Advisory Committee, re- 

 presentative of and elected by the Societies concerned with the different branches 

 of chemistry, which would keep closely in touch with the Chemical Intelligence 

 Department on the one hand and with the industry on the other, and which 

 would act as adviser of the permanent scientific staff of the Department. There 

 is, I fear, little cliance of seeing Dr. Forster's proposal carried into effect unless 

 all the Societies concerned move actively and unitedly in the matter; they 

 must do the pioneer work and must submit a definite scheme to the Government, 

 if the desired result is to be attained. In the not improbable contingency that 

 the Board of Trade will decline to take action, I trust that the scheme for the 

 establishment of an Information Bureau — on lines similar to but somewhat 

 less wide-reaching than those which I have just indicated — which has been 

 under the careful consideration of the Council of the Society of Chemical 

 Industry, will be vigorously prosecuted. Difficulties, chiefly financial, stand in 

 the way, but these are not insuperable, especially if the .sympathy and support 

 of the Government can be enlisted. 



Unles'! the conditions and methods which have ruled in the past are greatly 

 altered it is hardly possible to hope that the future prospects of our chemical 

 industry will be bright ; it is essential that the representatives of the industry 

 .should organise themselves in their own interest and co-operate in fighting the 

 common enemy. More than ever is this the case when, as we are informed, 

 three different groups of German producers of dyes, drugs, and fine chemicals, 

 who own seven large factories, have formed a combination with a capital of 

 more than 11.000,000?., and with other assets of very great value in the shape 

 of scientific, technical, and financial efficiency. Hence it is eminently satisfac- 

 tory to be able to record the active progress of a movement, originated by the 

 Chemical Society, which has culminated in the formation of an Association of 

 British Chemical Manufacturers. The main objects of the Association are to 

 promote co-operation between British chemical manufacturers ; to act as a 

 medium for placing before the Government and Government oflScials the views 

 of manufacturers upon matters affecting the chemical industry ; to develop 

 technical organisation and promote industrial research ; to keep in touch witli 

 the progress of chemical knowledge and to facilitate the development of new- 

 British industries and the extension of existing ones ; and to encourage the 

 sympathetic association of British manufacturers with the various universities 

 and technical colleges. 



Needless to say, the progress of this important movement will be assisted 

 by everyone who is interested, either directly or indirectly, in the welfare of 

 our chemical industry, and, moreover, the eupport of the scientific societies will 



