370 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION B. 



received any training in scientific subjects or methods are obvious.' ' The 

 remedy is also obvious. 



Here, again, the prospects are now brighter than ever before, because the 

 warnings and appeals of men of science have at last, and after many years, 

 begun to bear fruit, or perhaps it would be more correct to say the lessons of 

 the war have begun to make an impression on the powers that be. Within 

 the last few weeks it has been intimated that the Government, giving ear to 

 what has been uttered, incessantly and almost ad nuustain, with regard tfi 

 British neglect of science, propose to appoint a committee to inquire into the 

 position of science in our national system of education, especially in universities 

 and secondary schools. The duty of the conunittee will be to advise the authori- 

 ties how to promote the advancement of pure science, and also the interests of 

 trade, industries, and professions dependent on the application of science, bear- 

 ing in mind the needs of what is described as a liberal education. It is stated 

 that the committee ■^vill include scientific men in whom tTie country will have 

 confidence, some of those who appreciate the application of science to commerce 

 and industry, and some who are able from general experience to correlate 

 scientific teaching with education as a whole. I am sure that we may look 

 forward with confidence to the recommendations of such a committee, arid we 

 shall hope, for the sake of our country, that their recommendations will be 

 adopted and put in force with the least possible delay. 



The following Papers were then read : — 



]. The Fulure of Organic Cheviical Indus try. By F. IT. Cari!. 



2. 'J lie Brills]t Coal Tar Colour Industry in Peace a)id War. 

 By C. M. Whittakfr. 



3. The Preparaiion of Chemicals for Lahnralory Use. By \V. Rixtott,. 



THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7. 

 The following business was transacted : — 



1. Joint Discussion with Section C on the hivcsiicjation of the Chemi- 



cal and Geological Characters of different varieties of Coal, with 

 a view to their viost effective iitilisation as fuel, and- to the extrac- 

 tion of hye-prodvcts. — See Section C, p. 395. 



2. 'The Papers read on Wednesday hy Messrs. Carr, Whittaker, and 



EiNTOUL were discussed. 



3. Description and Exhibition of an Apparatus for Grinding Coal in 



Vacvx). By Dr. P. Phillips Bedson. 



Papers hy Dr. J. E. Stead, F.B.S. : — 

 (a) On the Oxidation of Nickel Steel, 

 [h) On the Reduction of Solid Niclcel and Copper Oxides hy Solid 



Iron. 

 (c) 071 the Disruptive Effect of Carbon Monovid^ at 400° to 



500° C. on Wrought Iron, 



• ' Nature,' Feb. 10, 1916. 



