G.— ENGINEERING. 151 



There is another aspect of the subject which is perhaps related more to 

 economics than to engineering, but it nevertheless demands a definite 

 scientific approach, rather than a policy of drift. I refer to what has 

 almost become a contest between road and railway development. At 

 home there seems no doubt that thousands of tons of heavy materials are 

 carried upon roads, with some element of convenience, it is true, that should 

 be carried on rails, at much greater gross cost to the community than if sent 

 by rail. The calorific value of the fuel consumed per ton mile and con- 

 sumption of other materials is greater for road than for rail transport, and 

 the actual damage done to road surfaces and vehicles is much greater for 

 the heavy loaded road vehicles than for rail vehicles. True it is that 

 flexibility, direct delivery, and many other advantages are claimed for 

 road traffic which may far outweigh the disadvantages just referred to, but 

 a failure to visualise the problem of internal transport as a whole may lay 

 unnecessary burdens upon the community. In the opening out of new 

 country that may be the problem in South Africa. I venture to suggest 

 that a courageous but, as far as is humanly possible, a ' scientific ' policy of 

 development by road and rail should be followed. 



The argument of this address can be summarised into a few sentences. 

 New epoch-making developments in engineering depend upon the discovery 

 of new facts of science and upon materials and technical processes. The 

 only hope of solving many of the problems which face the engineer to-day 

 is by carefully organised experiment. Engineering is of such vital 

 importance to modern life that not only manufacturers but large users, 

 public authorities, and governments must be interested and provide 

 funds for research. * 



In Great Britain a good deal of engineering research is being done by 

 large firms, by research associations connected with certain industries, 

 by the Universities and by the Technical Colleges, the National Physical 

 and the Building Research Laboratories, which are under the direction of 

 the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. This Department 

 also assists research associations by grants, and the Universities by the 

 provision of research scholarships and research assistants, but at present 

 it seems that sufficient research is not being done, and that not nearly 

 enough researchers are being trained to meet the needs. How can the 

 demands of the case be met ? 



It would appear that we must look largely to the Universities to train 

 researchers. I suggested that I wished to avoid the subject of the training 

 of engineers, but one word I wish to say and that is to refer to the necessity 

 for the training in the Universities of a considerable number of engineering 

 students with the research outlook. Training in strict habits of observa- 

 tion and in the investigation of problems theoretically and by experiment 

 should form part of the work of all engineering students. Much of the 

 theoretical knowledge that a young engineer requires to learn is now to be 

 found in excellent textbooks and in current periodicals, and these he should 

 be taught to read critically and with understanding, but he should also be 

 taught to face all his problems in the spirit of an investigator. Certain 

 selected students should be encouraged to remain at the Universities after 

 graduation or to return after some experience of actual works to engage 

 specifically in research. Engineering needs such men, some to give their 



