G.— ENGINEERING 153 



achieved a measure of immunity from liability for which the engineer 

 does not ask ; believing that therein temptation may be lurking amid the 

 slime of self-interest. 



The second reform is the proper representation of science upon all 

 governing bodies in industry, and upon all technical departments in the 

 state. Here I think this Association can do the nation a service by passing 

 a resolution asking for more adequate representation on the Board of 

 Admiralty and similar state bodies. I should like to see a small Com- 

 mittee of this Section appointed at this meeting to explore the matter 

 further. 



A third reform, dependent to some extent upon the first and second, is 

 some machinery which in technical matters will prevent the engineer 

 from being over-ruled by the commercial man. This is a very difficult 

 subject ; but at least a beginning could be made with government and 

 municipal undertakings, where the evil is very pronounced. The three 

 examples on pp. 144-145 illustrate this point exactly. It is not right that 

 the citizen should run risks of life or health to save trouble or expense to a 

 trading department. The county and borough councils have the remedy 

 in their own hands. On engineering questions the engineer should 

 always have the last word. 



The fourth reform is a drastic alteration of the patent procedure in the 

 law courts. Here, again, I think this Association should help by recognis- 

 ing the existence of this evil and recommending that a Royal Commission 

 be appointed to investigate the subject at once. 



The fifth reform concerns the Trade Associations and can only take the 

 shape of a suggestion. To obviate unpleasant suspicions, and to enable 

 these bodies still to carry on that part of their work which is so beneficial 

 to the nation, I would most strongly advise them to make their Councils 

 fully representative of all the three interests, viz. : makers, contractors, 

 and buyers. I think that if they fail to do this, they will slide by degrees 

 into a slough of self-interest, until questions in the House of Commons, 

 or the advent of a Socialist Government, leads to state interference with 

 their organisations. 



Finally, there is the question of the general professional code of the 

 engineer, as illustrated in the examples on pp. 146 and 147. Everything 

 possible under existing conditions had been done to give those sinners a 

 high code of honour, and yet they failed to respond. The only conclusion 

 possible is that the existing conditions of training are lacking in some 

 essential factor. The modern curriculum both in school and university 

 has become so crowded, the teaching so vocational, and the objects so 

 material, that a real perspective of life is impossible. Youths and maidens 

 sail away from the university with excellent intellectual training, but with 

 no sheet anchor to which they can trust in distress. This is true of every 

 faculty : of arts as well as of science and medicine. The result is that 

 when they meet a strong current of self-interest, they drift helplessly, 

 and we see them exhibiting that unsocial behaviour of which I have 

 given so many instances. The remedy lies in the hands of parents and 

 of those who control educational institutions : it is urgent and of national 



