412 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—F*. 
(a) disclosure of essential facts of management to shareholders ; (b) organisa- 
tion and extension of responsible opinion among investors, as ultimate 
‘ democratic ’ check on management. Conclusions. 
Dr. E. S. Pearson.—The r6le of probability theory in the control of 
quality in production. 
The term ‘statistics’ is understood in many senses. An essential 
characteristic of the particular aspect of the subject discussed in this paper 
is the use of probability theory as a guide to practical action. In the last 
few years it has been increasingly realised that an approach long ago followed 
in the theory of errors in astronomy and more recently in problems of human 
heredity, biology and agricultural experimentation can be usefully employed 
in connection with the control of quality of industrial products. . 
The introduction of these ideas into a new field of application is neces- 
sarily a gradual process, partly because the trained statistician must adjust 
himself to new conditions and new problems, partly because the engineer 
is at first baffled by terminology and conceptions with which he is unfamiliar. 
In this paper a situation arising in the manufacture of electric lamps is used 
to suggest why it may be of value to relate the ordinary conceptions of 
confidence and risk with more precise numerical measures of probability. 
The bearing of these ideas on the choice of sampling clauses in specifica- 
tions is discussed, and finally it is pointed out how, by means of statistical 
controls applied to the results of routine testing by the manufacturer, a 
considerable extension of the efficiency of specification should be possible. 
Mrs. EtrHe, M. Woop, C.B.E.—Domestic management of to-morrow. 
Until recently the approach to problems of management and labour in 
the domestic field has been largely sentimental. Now the methods of study 
are beginning to resemble those applied to other industrial problems—that 
is, scientific methods are being introduced. 
The only logical way is to regard the parts of the house primarily intended 
for work as workshops ; to observe flow of work, frequency of operation, 
etc., in connection with the placing of equipment; and such matters as 
the health and convenience of the worker by means of time and motion 
studies, study of posture, surface heights, etc., as in other factories and 
work places. 
These matters are of more than academic interest in view of their influence 
on the health of the women concerned who are the mothers of the future 
generations. 
Various bodies are now directly concerned with the elimination of waste 
and fatigue in domestic work, but the need for education not only of women 
workers but of public bodies, equipment manufacturers, builders, etc., is 
emphatic. 
The attitude of employers of domestic labour is a relic of the feudal 
system, but the improvements of conditions, wages, and even of status are 
discernible. 
The efficient performance of domestic duties constitutes highly skilled 
work involving budgeting, planning, skilled craftsmanship, costing, etc. 
AFTERNOON. 
Industrial management films (5.15). 
Office management: illustrating reorganisation of the Post Office 
Savings Department. 
