. 
| ideas of democracy are adverse to the creation of places to which 
: definite work is not assigned and from which definite results do not 
. emanate. This objection, which strikes at the root of the establish- 
- ment of such an institution as Sir David Brewster contemplated, is, to 
a large extent, obviated by the scheme of the Department of Scientific 
and Industrial Research. It does not prescribe or fetter research, but, 
whilst aiding by personal payments the individual worker, leaves him 
free to pursue his inquiry as he thinks best. Grants are made, on the 
recommendation of an Advisory Council of experts, to research workers 
THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 9 
in educational institutions and elsewhere, in order to promote research 
of high character on fundamental problems of pure science or in suitable 
eases on problems of applied science. Of the boards and committees and 
similar organisations established prior to or during the War, or subse- 
quent to it, with one or two exceptions, all are now directly under the 
_ Department. They deal with a wide range of subjects, such as the 
_ Building Research Board, established early in 1920 to organise and 
_ supervise investigations on building materials and construction, to study 
- structural failures, and to fix standards for structural materials. The 
Food Investigation Board deals with the preservation by cold of food, 
and with the engineering problems of cold storage, with the chemistry 
of putrefaction, and the agents which induce it, with the bionomics of 
moulds, and the chemistry of edible oils and fats. The Fuel Research 
Board is concerned with the immediate importance of fuel economy 
and with investigations of the questions of oil-fuel for the Navy 
and Mercantile Marine, the survey of the national coal resources, 
domestic heating, air pollution, pulverised fuel, utilisation of peat, the 
search for possible substitutes for natural fuel oil, and for practicable 
sources of power alcohol. 
The Geological Survey Board has taken over the Geological Survey 
~ of Great Britain and the control of the Museum of Practical Geology. 
The maintenance of the National Physical Laboratory, originally con- 
trolled by a General Board and an Executive Committee appointed by 
the President and Council of the Royal Society, is now transferred to 
the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. A Mines 
Research Committee and a Mine Rescue Apparatus Committee are 
attached to the Department. The former is concerned with such ques- 
tions as the determination of the geothermic gradient, the influence of 
temperature of intake and return air on strata, the effect of seasonal 
changes on strata temperature of intakes, the cooling effect due to the 
evolution of fire-damp, heat production from the oxidation of timber, 
etc. The Department is also directing inquiries on the preservation 
and restoration of antique objects deposited in the British Museum. It 
is concerned with the gauging of rivers and tidal currents, with special 
reference to a hydrographical survey of Great Britain in relation to 
1921 D 
