392 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. VOL.XVIII. No. 456. 



British Association sub-committees, to be 

 elected by themselves with the object of 

 dealing with all those subjects of investi- 

 gation common to their societies and to the 

 British Association committees, and to look 

 after the general interests of science and 

 scientific education throughout the prov- 

 inces and provincial centers. * * * 



"Tour committee desire to lay special 

 emphasis on the necessity for the extension 

 of the scientific activity of the correspond- 

 ing societies and the expert knowledge of 

 many of their members in the direction 

 of scientific education. They are of opin- 

 ion that immense benefit would accrue to 

 the country if the corresponding societies 

 would keep this requirement especially in 

 view with the object of securing adequate 

 representation for scientific education on 

 the Education Committees now being ap- 

 pointed under the new Act. The educa- 

 tional section of the Association having 

 been but recently added, the corresponding 

 societies have as yet not had much oppor- 

 tunity for taking part in this branch of the 

 Association's work; and in view of the re- 

 organization in education now going on all 

 over the country your committee are of 

 opinion that no more opportune time is 

 likely to occur for the infiuence of scientific 

 organizations to make itself felt as a real 

 factor in national education. * * * " 



I believe that if these suggestions or any- 

 thing like them— for some better way may 

 be found on inquiry — are accepted, great 

 good of science throughout the Empire will 

 come. Rest assured that sooner or later 

 such a guild will be formed because it is 

 needed. It is for you to say whether it 

 shall be, or form part of, the British Asso- 

 ciation. We in this Empire certainly need 

 to organize science as much as in Germany 

 they find the need to organize a navy. The 

 German Navy League, which has branches 

 even in our Colonies, already has a member- 



ship of 630,000, and its income is nearly 

 20,000L a year. A British Science League 

 of 500,000 with a sixpenny subscription 

 would give us 12,000J. a year,- quite enough 

 to begin with. 



I for one believe that the British Asso- 

 ciation would be a vast gainer by such an 

 expansion of one of its existing functions. 

 Increased authority and prestige would fol- 

 low its increased utility. The meetings 

 would possess a new interest; there would 

 be new subjects for reports; missionary 

 work less needed than formerly would be 

 replaced by efforts much more suited to the 

 real wants of the time. This magnificent, 

 strong and complicated organization would 

 become a living force, working throughout 

 the year, instead of practically lying idle, 

 useless and rusting for 51 weeks ■ out of 

 the 52 so far as its close association with 

 its members is concerned. 



If this suggestion in any way commends 

 itself to you, then when you begin your 

 work in your sections or general committee 

 see to it that a body is appointed to inquire 

 how the thing can be done. Remember 

 that the British Association will be as much 

 weakened by^ the creation of a new body 

 to do the work I have shown to have been 

 in the minds of its founders as I believe 

 it will be strengthened by becomong com- 

 pletely effective in every one of the direc- 

 tions they indicated, and for which effec- 

 tiveness we their successors are indeed re- 

 sponsible. The time is appropi-iate for 

 such a reinforcement of one of the wings 

 of our organization, for we have recently 

 included Education among our sections. 



There is another matter I should like to 

 see referred to the committee I have spoken 

 of, if it please you to appoint it. The 

 British Association, which as I have al- 

 ready pointed out is now the chief body 

 in the Empire which deals with the totality 

 of science, is, I believe, the only organiza- 



