Research and Finance

Abstract

IN the leading article in NATURE of July 11, there were, we regret to say, two inaccuracies which should be corrected. The system of grants in aid of the research associations and styled “the datum line system”, described on p. 52, was superseded, some two years ago, by another system which, for the sake of brevity, may be called “the block grant system”. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research now makes an annual block grant to an association, provided that a definite sum is assured, in the form of subscriptions, by the industry concerned. The block grant and the industrial income have no rigid mathematical relationship; the ruling principle being that, added together, they must provide such a sum as will, in the opinion of the Advisory Council of the Department, form an adequate financial nucleus for a co-operative research organization for the industry in question. In order to encourage further expansion, the Department offers £ for £ on sums subscribed over and above the initial industrial income, up to a stated maximum, which, again, is fixed on the advice of the Advisory Council. This new system was the outcome of the big appeal made to industry a few years ago to play its part in expanding the operations of the research associations. The other inaccuracy was the parenthetical statement, on p. 52, that the woollen industry raises its contributions to co-operative research by means of a statutory levy. It is a fact that for some years now the woollen industry has been conducting propaganda in favour of the institution of such a statutory compulsory levy, but no measure for the attainment of this object has yet been introduced into Parliament. On the other hand, it may be remembered that a Rubber Industry Bill, having for its object the institution of a statutory levy, was introduced into Parliament and finally dropped owing to the defection of a prominent firm in the industry.