466 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—G. 
eminently suited to the airship; even in future a possible practicability for 
aeroplanes. 
Conclusion. Air transport safe and reasonably reliable. Costs still high; 
capable of reduction. Government assistance necessary in early stages. Air 
transport an Empire necessity. The necessity of educating the public to utilise, 
support, and demand the development of British air transport. The nation’s 
debt of gratitude to pioneers who have placed British air transport in the 
premier position it holds. 
7. Mr. A. T. Watt, O.B.E.—A Broad Outlook on the Future of 
Transport and its Past Obligations to Science. Transport by 
Sea. 
Use of iron and steel. Armour. James Watt and steam propulsion. 
Turbines and internal-combustion engines. William Froude and resistance of 
ships. Shipyard machines. Early mathematical work on stability. Loss of 
H.M.S. ‘Captain.’ Magnetic and gyroscopic compass. Gyroscopic gun control. 
Problems awaiting solution. Factor of ignorance. Need for research work. 
Difficulties to be overcome. Early possibilities. High elastic-limit mild steel. 
Electric welding. Improved metals. 
Necessity for training. Importance of experience and practice. Antagonism 
between theory and practice. Need for co-ordination. Engineering becoming 
more complicated. Level of engineers’ knowledge must be raised. Need for 
the scientific practical man. Walue of pure theory. Science applied to experi- 
ence. Absolute and comparative science. Science becomes practice. Finance, 
practice, and science. 
In the afternoon Messrs. Cammell Laird’s Shipyard, Birkenhead, 
was visited. 
Monday, September 17. j 
8. Mr. J. Parry.—Conservation and Control of Water Resources. 
(1) The need long felt for more effective control over the appropriation and 
distribution of our sources of water supply. 
(2) The various sources to be dealt with: (a2) Upland catchment areas; 
(b) direct river supplies; (c) underground supplies. 
(3) Claimants for upland areas: (a) Town supplies; (b) rural supplies; 
(c) power schemes. 
(4) Principles on which allocation of sources should be based. 
(5) Distinction to be drawn between a survey and administration. 
(6) Recommendations of Water Power Resources Committee. Objections to 
same. Alternatives. 
(7) Desirability of inquiry by a Royal Commission. Questions requiring — 
investigation. 
9. Capt. J. A. Suzz, C.B.E.—Recent Developments in the Applica- i 
tion of Wireless Telegraphy to the Mercantile Marine. q 
The chief improvements which have been effected during the last eighteen ~ 
months are as follows :— } 
(1) The introduction of high-speed automatic transmitters and receivers in ~ 
the largest transatlantic ships. Speeds up to ninety words per minute can be 
used at distances up to about 700 miles. 
(2) Improvements in protective tuning in receivers for continuous-wave — 
telegraphy, avoiding almost all of the serious interference which was experienced — 
due to the larger number of powerful continuous-wave stations now in use. By 
(3) The use of directed ‘beams’ of very short wave-length, which can be- 
employed to inform ships of the bearings of the transmitter. This form of 
apparatus is entirely independent of the ordinary wireless outfit, and the 
receiver can be operated by the navigator. 
(4) Steady progress in the accuracy of direction-finders fitted on board ship. 
(5) Experimental work on the subject of extending to ships the facilities 
