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B.—CHEMISTRY. 81 
The Co-ordinating Board for Chemistry, like the similar Boards for 
other sciences, was founded for the purpose of securing interchange of 
information among Government technical establishments, seeing that 
outside interests are informed, when this is practicable, and arranging for 
researches not otherwise provided for. The Board carries out these duties 
in consultation with representatives of the Fighting Services and of other 
Government Departments materially affected, and with independent 
chemists, when departmental schemes of work are reviewed in the light of 
information that may be in the possession of any of the members of the 
Board. To this Board are referred questions of wider importance than 
are within the purview of any one Department, and it keeps under its 
consideration the development of the natural resources of the country. 
With further facilities for undertaking investigations, it will be in the 
position to extend such work and to arrange for subjects not otherwise 
provided for, as well as for those at present under investigation. 
Assisted General Research. 
Apart from the indirect help afforded to the universities by means of 
Government grants, direct assistance is given by the Department of 
Scientific and Industrial Research to research workers who may be 
students, or independent workers, and to important pieces of pure research. 
To these grants no conditions are attached ; they are given for the exten- 
sion of knowledge. 
One of the objects of these grants is to encourage the supply of highly 
trained scientific research workers to meet the growing needs of the Govern- 
ment, the industries of the country, and indeed of the Empire. The lack 
of such was felt acutely during the war, although now, for chemists with 
the usual qualification at any rate, the conditions have changed. 
Students are given grants on the recommendation of their professor that 
they are a type likely to be greatly benefited by spending two years at 
research work after taking their degree. In this case the award is for 
promise and not for achievement, and the hope is entertained that’ the 
necessity for these grants will gradually disappear when university finance 
is on a sounder basis. 
Grants are given to independent workers who have shown their capacity 
for research, and who are handicapped by lack of facilities which they may 
not be able to secure from private or other sources. Further, in the case 
of work of unusual importance, very substantial financial assistance may 
_ be given when it appears desirable. 
In this way comes recognition of the national importance of the highest 
type of scientific work, and to this, of course, no conditions are imposed 
as to the lines on which it should be carried out. 
1924, G 
