3 
1918-19.] Opening Address by the President. 
consult the Joint Industrial Council of an industry before establishing a 
research association for that industry. Upwards of thirty industries are 
now engaged in the preliminary stage of the work. In the case of widely 
distributed industries efforts are being made to establish single research 
associations for the whole kingdom, with local branches dealing with 
problems relating to particular localities. The advantages of such organ- 
ised methods are obvious. 
Special reference is made to two recent additions to these combinations. 
One is the British Scientific Instrument Research Association, which was 
founded through the efforts of the Optical Industry, and has been established 
on broad enough lines to include all scientific-instrument makers. This 
group, and especially the optical instrument trade, is regarded as a Key 
industry, and, on account of its importance, has received exceptional 
financial support. The Department has guaranteed a sum of £40,000 
during the first five years, to be expended in accordance with a scheme of 
research to be approved each year. The other is the Iron Manufacturers" 
Research Association, which has resolved to investigate the problems 
relating to this industry. They have subscribed the necessary funds and 
ask for no financial assistance from the Government. They have resolved 
that the results of the researches shall be freely available to each firm, 
and that “all existing knowledge, trade secrets, and procedures shall be 
pooled for the common good.” It is hoped that other combinations may 
follow this example, and that most of the research associations will 
ultimately become independent of financial aid from the State. 
The National Physical Laboratory has been transferred to this new 
Department, which, in future, will be responsible for its maintenance. The 
experimental research station in connection with the Fuel Research Board 
is now being erected ; when completed, the experiments connected with the 
problem of the replacement of raw coal by manufactured fuel will be 
carried out on a comprehensive scale. Brief descriptions are given of the 
researches connected with food, mine rescue apparatus, the mining of tin 
and tungsten in Cornwall, timber, and building materials. Special allusion 
is made to the action of the Home Secretary in requesting the Department 
to investigate the problems of Industrial Fatigue and questions closely 
cognate with them. This communication has resulted in the appointment 
of the Industrial Fatigue Research Board, with Professor Sherrington as 
chairman. The reference given to it is in the following terms : “ To con- 
sider and investigate the relations of the hours of labour and of other 
conditions of employment, including methods of work to the production of 
industrial fatigue, having regard both to industrial efficiency and to the 
