5 
1918-19.] Opening Address by the President. 
At the same time the Advisory Council point out the great danger of 
an inadequate supply of trained research workers. The language is so 
strong that I prefer to quote the passage : — 
“ We make no apology for calling attention again to the grave situation 
which would arise after the war from the demands for trained research 
workers if no adequate supply should then be forthcoming. The outlook 
to-day is at least as serious as it was when we made our first report. We 
have encouraging evidence on all hands that there is constantly increasing 
realisation of the need for organised research in connection with industry, 
but the movement for the formation of research associations will receive 
a serious set-back if the supply of trained researchers cannot be expanded 
in proportion to the increasing demands, and there is considerable danger 
of this happening. We therefore regard the expenditure on grants to 
students and other persons engaged in research as being an essential part 
of our organisation of the national resources for the application of science 
to industry. 
“ We must, however, again emphasise the partial and insufficient effects 
of anything which we can do to increase the supply of trained workers. 
. . . The responsibility for recruiting the army of men and women we 
need must lie on the education authorities of the country. They are 
entrusted with the provision and adequate maintenance of those institu- 
tions of higher learning which train the students. Unless access for all 
well-qualified students to our universities and higher technical institutions 
is made easier than it is at present, and unless they are generously supplied 
with the large funds which are necessary for their work, our efforts will 
be foredoomed to failure.” 
The committee appointed to inquire into the position of Natural Science 
in the Educational System of Great Britain, with Sir J. J. Thomson as 
chairman, devoted a separate section of their report to the discussion of 
this question. They recognise its gravity and urgency. They point out 
that the schemes of reconstruction which have been prepared require a 
large number of trained workers, but the supply is wholly inadequate. 
They quote a statement of Sir George Beilby that from one-fifth to one- 
half of the 100 millions sterling which represents the national bill for 
raw coal is being wastefully expended and might be saved ; and that the 
saving can only be effected by the co-operation of a large body of trained 
fuel experts to carry out the necessary research work, and to introduce 
and supervise improved methods in all works where fuel is consumed in 
large quantities. 
In order to meet this demand the committee recommend radical changes 
