The Iron and Steel Institute

Abstract

THE annual general meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute was held on Wednesday and Thursday, May 4 and, 5, at the Institution of Civil Engineers. The retiring president—Sir Hugh Bell—inducted the presidentelect, His Grace the Duke of Devonshire. After presenta tion of the Bessemer medal to Mr. E. H. Saniter, of Rotherham, for scientific services rendered to the iron and steel industry, the Duke of Devonshire gave his presidential address. In the course of a long and detailed account of the rise and progress of the coal, iron, and steel industries in this and foreign countries, the president also reviewed the social and economic conditions over the period from 1869, when the institute was founded under the presidency of the seventh Duke of Devonshire, to the present time. Conditions of work are now safer and more sani tary; wages are better, and working hours lighter, Housing is better, and a host of improvements in traffic, 325 lighting, education, and public assistance have made for the comfort, health, and enlightenment of the people. Taking increase in wages paid to the worker, and also the increased spending power of these wages, into account, is Grace quoted statistics showing a net increase, for the period mentioned, of 90 per cent.