8 
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. [Sess. 
presented to the General Council of Edinburgh University in May 1917, 
it was stated that new buildings are required for the departments of 
Chemistry, Zoology, Geology, Physiology, Pathology, Bacteriology, 
Geography, and Experimental Psychology, and that in several of these 
departments no provision for research exists at present. This position is 
far from satisfactory. It is further stated that in far too many cases the 
whole time of an assistant is occupied by teaching routine, and that little 
or no time is left for original research. This is a grave injustice to the 
assistant, for promotion is usually determined in these days not only 
by the teaching power of the applicant but by the value of his original 
contributions to the science in which he labours. 
Our Scottish universities and technical colleges are progressive 
institutions, but unless they are more generously supported by the State 
and by private endowments they cannot possibly keep pace with the 
demands which are now made upon them. It seems to me that, in order 
to meet this emergency, the Carnegie Trustees ought seriously to consider 
whether the sums set apart for the development of research and scientific 
departments might be largely increased. 
Before closing I wish to refer briefly to the final report of the Coal 
Conservation Committee recently issued. It embodies in the appendices 
the reports of the various sub-committees appointed by that body, viz. 
the Power Generation and Transmission Sub-Committee, the Geological 
Sub-Committee, the Mining Sub-Committee, and the Carbonisation Sub- 
Committee. The Prime Minister has acted wisely in publishing these 
documents, because they contain recommendations relating to an industry 
on which the future prosperity of the country largely depends. 
The Geological Sub-Committee had to consider “ whether with a view 
to maintaining our industrial and commercial position it is desirable that 
any steps should be taken in the near future, and, if so, what steps, to 
secure the development of new coalfields or extensions of coalfields already 
worked.” Valuable evidence bearing on these questions is embodied in 
the report. In addition, the sub-committee advise an extension of the 
powers of the Geological Survey in connection with the mapping of the 
coalfields. In particular they recommend that it should be made com- 
pulsory to give notice of the making of any borehole, shaft, or other 
sinking which is expected to reach, or does reach, a depth of 100 feet ; 
that free access to boreholes, shafts, or other sinkings while in progress, 
and to all cores and journals of boreholes, should be permitted to the 
Geological Survey at all times, and that records of the strata passed 
through be preserved by the Geological Survey ; that these records should 
