_ SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
» will deny either premiss) it follows that there is an obligation laid upon eve 
chemist to consider sincerely his attitude towards the country’s claim upon h 
service in the technical development of its industries, Such a view, at any rate, 
is commended to those in training for some sort of a chemical career, and thos 
who may be considering the matter of choosing one. 
It is not in place here to expound the necessity of applying science to indus- 
try. To those with a clear view of what “ science ” means it is unnecessary ; 
the many without it the exposition has been made sufficiently often in recent 
years. Australia is certainly recognising this need, though in a measure by no 
means so definite and hearty as many other countries. In reading the discussion 
which took place last year in the Senate upon the Ministry’s proposal to crea 
an Institute of Science and Industry, one was not a little surprised to find how 
far the opinions of certain senators were lage 
ing behind those now accepted by 
their legislative confréres in America, Great Britain, the sister Dominions and 
Japan. If such opinions prevail, Australia falls out of a world-wide 
Already she lags behind. 
But it is the aim here rather to ask whether, giy 
liament, Australian chemists are pre 
exist and those that must be raised ; 
movemen 
en the opportunity by Par- 
pared to attack the problems that already 
not so much whether their spirit be willing 
as, firstly, whether the weapons at their command are sufficient and the best. 
and, secondly, whether they are determined to obtain for themselves those condi- 
tions under which their weapons may most effectively be used. 
In discussing the first matter, one addresses oneself chiefly 
will disagree with the statement that the young graduate of technical school or 
university is very indifferently equipped for the part of technical adviser in any 
industrial process. Least of all will the young graduate himself disagree. His 
“subject has become too great for more than a limited general acquaintance to 
made with it in three years or so. Nor is it wisdom to attempt to cram into 
these years more chemistry; indeed, there is much reason to suppose that a wise 
course would be rather a diminution of chemistry and an increase in acquaintan 
with neighbouring sciences, and even (if one may risk the suggestion) with logic. 
philosophy and literature. The dogma that is an age of specialization is nearly 
dead, after a life of great harmfulness, ‘The university’s part is to cultivate a- 
point of view, a capacity to see and to follow a track without losing sight of i 
relation to other tracks; not to teach the minutia of a single isolated path, 
And if this be accepted, the graduate of the future will be still less ready 
straightway “to apply science to industry,” or to do it even after he has masteres 
the whole existing plant details of his particular chosen industry. The holder 
a technical school diploma or a university degree is at the beginning, not the 
end, of his preparation for original industrial work, and nothing is more unfo 
tunate than the way in which the habit of hard study is dropped by students 
almost as soon as it has been properly acquired, and just when its exercise becomes 
capable of great things. Post-graduate study is not merely desirable, it 
essential. The graduate who fails to recognise this is dropping out of the run- 
ning. He is doing worse; he is assisting, by bringing himself to a standstill, to’ 
discredit his science and those who, 
by their strong faith in it, are striving to 
induce the industrialists to give the scientist a chance. We have never qui 
realized in British countries how long it takes to make a sound technical chemist 
capable of original work, and how foolish it is to make a man work hard for three 
years in order to acquire a more or less general education and to pass examina: 
tions, and then take no further thought regarding the later years in which his— 
powers should be concentrated upon the specific branches 
hecome a creator of knowledge. 
to chemists. Few 
in which he might — 
42 
