A— MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES 27 



immediate objectives are usually very different, one finds, for example, 

 in both the Cavendish and National Physical Laboratories, ample 

 illustration of how large-scale and expensive apparatus has entered into 

 both classes of physical investigation. Such apparatus is likely to be 

 beyond the compass of the private research worker, who at one time cut 

 a conspicuous figure in the scientific annals of this country, but who, 

 with a few noteworthy exceptions, has now regrettably disappeared. 

 Progress in industrial research, at any rate, seems to be more and more 

 bound up with specialised team attack, whether to solve a specific problem 

 or to develop a new invention or product. 



There is one other matter to which I would like to refer. It has been 

 claimed in some quarters that man's qualities of leadership are more 

 likely to be developed by the older humanitarian studies than by the 

 natural or mechanical sciences The dictum has doubtless the defects 

 of all such generalisations, and more to the point, perhaps, is the sum- 

 ming up of John Drinkwater, that ' the minds of men mostly belong to 

 one or other of two kinds — the kind that wishes to dominate, and the 

 kind that desires to understand.' Experience tempts one to hazard 

 the view that the proportion of men who naturally seek leadership or 

 administrative responsibility is small, possibly one in twenty or even less. 

 Provided, however, the germs of initiative and common sense are there, 

 the value of research in getting a man into the way of thinking for him- 

 self and developing a courageous and discriminating outlook is not to 

 be questioned. It is to be hoped that the penetration into the major 

 industries of scientifically trained young men, whose mental equipment 

 is such as to fit them later on for responsible administrative jobs, is some- 

 thing which the Universities regard as of high national importance. In 

 its turn,, industry must play a part by recognising the advantages of 

 admitting the pick of such men into the Board room more commonly 

 than in the traditional past. Power without knowledge is a well-worn 

 and discredited experiment in this country ; and the conception that 

 technical or scientific workers invariably require to be mothered by 

 full-blooded non-scientific or quasi-scientific administrators is manifestly 

 so much moonshine. 



Before leaving the subject, I may perhaps comment on what I believe 

 to be a weakness of a good many thoroughly capable men who come to 

 an appointment fresh from a University and armed with an Honours 

 science degree and perhaps a little research experience ; that is, a diffi- 

 culty in setting down their ideas and conclusions on paper concisely and 

 logically and in reasonably good English, whether in letter or report. 

 We must not, of course, expect to find old heads on young shoulders, 

 but I feel sure that some sort of intensive course to cover these points 

 ought to form a part of young people's University training ; or perhaps 

 we ought to insist on a more thorough grounding, particularly in English, 

 before specialisation in science is allowed to begin. As it is, the drafting 

 of a scientific paper by a beginner is liable to be an ordeal which is, I 

 think, best tempered by the system of joint publication with a senior man, 

 the experience being not only valuable educationally but often an eye- 

 opener for both parties. 



