SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
Plans have been formulated for the erection of a Central Research 
Institution for the investigation of first principles, and for carrying on 
researches of a fundamental and pioneer character. Steps have already 
been taken to organize a sea experimental station, and to provide 
buildings and equipment for an engineening laboratory, a wireless and 
signal school, and a torpedo and mining school in place of Vernon. 
It is believed that these institutions will prove of great value in 
developing not only means of increasing the efliciency of the Navy, 
but in providing aids to navigation for our mercantile marine. 
The initial expenditure for buildings and equipment will be large, 
but it seems evident that an ample financial return will in a short time 
be obtained for the nation from profits accruing from a lowering of 
the rates of insurance and from a reduction in the cost of transporta- 
tion. If we could, by the use of such aids to navigation as have been 
referred to above, prevent two or three wrecks per year, or lower the 
time of passage between Great Britain and Canada on the average by 
one day per voyage per ship through the fog-covered areas in the neigh- 
bourhood of Newfoundland, sufticient funds would be saved in a year 
or two to cover the whole cost of the expenditure on scientific and 
experimental establishment, and on the prosecution of the researches 
and investigations foreshadowed. 
The British people had ignored science, or at best held 
it at arm’s length. Our policy of “muddling through” had 
covered almost every sphere of human activity. We prided 
ourselves on being a “practical people,” and regarded science 
as a mere plaything for theorists. In the scheme of our 
great industries science was, until quite recently, treated as 
an Ishmael. Even now she was viewed with suspicion, yet 
to hope for success in modern industry without the aid of 
science was like attempting to navigate the trackless ocean 
without a compass, 
—W. M. HUGHES. 
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