"
Y
➤ MK, BALFOUR ON EDUCATION
AND COMMERCE.
THE
illusory and baseless. You may destroy education, or you may greatly impair the value of education by keeping too "con- stantly before the minds of the studenta you are educating the narrower-I will not say the more sordid-but the nar rawer and less elevated aspect of his study,
.1
HÒNGKONG DAILY PRESS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1418, 1918.
STATE AND HOUSING.
NEEDS OF THE FUTURE.
There was issued recently the memoran dum of the Advisory Housing Panel of the Ministry of Reconstruction-six members of the Reconstruction Committee who were invited by the Minister to complete a review of the housing question as it is likely to present itself at the close of the war
MANY
AIR
INVENTIONS.
PRACTICAL PROPOSALS
WELCOMED.
The Air Ministry states that since April $5.00
1st last the Air Inventions Committee became a part of the Ministry, and car- ries out its duties under the general dires. tion of the Air Council, and in co-opera- tion with the Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. presided OYNT by Lord Rayleigh.
LONDON UNIVERSITY DEGREES. Mr. Balfour was the pringinal speaker at a meeting, held at the Mansion House recently, when the scheme for instituting degrees in commerce at the University of London was successfully launched. The Lord Mayor presided over a large as sembly, which included educationists, leading financiers, manufacturers, and merchants, and an influential committee was appointed to assist in promoting the project to obtain the necessary financial member of the community, and I am them sign the memorandum, although eminent in aeronautical science
support.
The panel was composed of tha Marquis of Salisbury (chairman), Major John W. Hills, M.P., Mr. Thomas Jones, Mr. B. S. Rowntree. Mr. Leslie Scott, M.P., and Mrs Sidney Webb, and all of Mr. Seqit makes the reservation that in of bouses required is far tog tote.
The Committee, as now organized under: the chairmanship of Sir Horace Darwin, consists of a small permanent establish ment and an advisory body of
men
and
engineering, among whom are Sir Richard
The man who is thinking of nothing through all his time of learning but exactly what that learning can be turned into in the shape of pounds, shillings, and pence when he comes to the time of having to earn his living does narrow his outlook of life, will be a less interesting disposed to add will on the whole aird the whole generally be less successful even From his own point of view. (Bear, It is pointed out that the situation in Lear) Therefore we have to be on our
the rural districts needs special conside guard gainst narrowing our academic ration, and the Panel is of the opinion Mr. dear Lord Mayor. 1 aan ..ex. ceedingly sorry to say I have to be in standard by having to close a regard to
that One of the factors which has driven its purely utilitarian aspects, and when
men from the land in the past has been Yattendance at a meeting of a Government
the subject you are teaching is so obvious.
lack of houses, which was estimated to Committer tomorrow afternoon at four o'clock, and I am therefore unable to ly utilitarian, at least at first sight, as
smount in 1912 in rural areas to 120,000 trade. and finance, the
houses. As a result of his experience in be present at the meeting at the Mansion commerce, House which is being held with the object danger is perhaps greater than when it
the war, the agricultural labourer will of improving the profession for the teach, deals with more generalised interests.
return with a wider outlook and deter Let us then, be careful. Let us insist na ing of commercial subjects in the Univer
mination to secure a better standard of far as we can upon the student who be
life. The call of the town and the induce. sity of London. I am very glad Mr.
gins this course and aims at acquiring ments offered to emigrate to the Colonies. "Balfour is addressing the meeting, but
this degree having at least a solid edu-where of all immigrants he is the most this is also an additional reason for my
cational foundation on which to build, regret at being unable to come. A de putation train the university, headed by had let those who are engaged in teach desirable, will re-act on him more ing, it always remember, and always try unless steps are taken to counteract it, strongly than ever, with the result that Sir Cooper Perry, was good enough to
to induce their pupils to remember, the Great Britain shall be faced with a wait upon me on this subjiet, and I pro-
wider aspect of the study, in which further drain of the cural population. mised I would attend, if possible, as
an at heartily in sympathy with the they are proportion of view which ought But the Government's programme for objects which they are seeking to pro-
to be maintained in dealing with all these mote. It will clearly be necessary for subjects, and that can only be reached, increased urable cultivation depends for as I think, if they are taught frem what success on a very considerable increase all of us after the war to do whatever we can to assist in promoting the re-may be described as the university stand-in the numbers of agricultural labourers, storation and expansion of nur trade and commerce. The increase of belp and in
The Loud Major, in opening the pro- generally, though not universally, but or his opinion the estimate of the number azebrook, Sir Dugald Clerk, Mr. F. W. ceedings, read the following letter from Dr Addison, Minister of Reconstruc tion"
terest, and the diminution of control and regulation are. I am sure, what our traders are rightly looking for in that time. An increased and more accurate knowledge of commercial questions, and the methods employed and the difficulties which have to be overcome, must be a very important part of the mears that will have to be adopted to attain the ends we all have in view."
so that the object before us must be not merely to retain the existing labourers, but to attract many others to the land,
Lanchester. Professor Petavel, Professor Callendar, and. Professor Lees, together with a certain number of representatives of the Air Services and of the Technical Departments of the Air Ministry.
I
with
Since the Committee was formed, in the autumn of 1917, over 3,000 inventions and As a anggestions have been examined result of this experience, and with a view to asiating inventors, the Commit- tee propose shortly to publish a memorna. dum in the technical papers, calling atten- tion to certain matters connected the submission of air inventions.
Generally speaking, and so far as the period of the war is concerned, no very
been reached in design when major im startling change in the present type of is anticipated. A stage has now
those possessing the requisite scientific provements can be expected only from and mechanical knowledge, skill, and ex
Thus radical changes in the perience wings, body, or air screws are possible only after long and patient research in belicopters (an eficient design for which
aeronautical laboratories,
would
Schemes for
point, and by men who by their very training and practice are obliged to look at those things in their true proportion To achieve this object, an essential con- probabsess certain advantages, though|
and with a real breadth of vision. So
looked at, car there be anything much more interesting than the subjects of this degree i
||
not so great as was once imagin.
ed), and for flapping wings and rotatory developed during the war, and would re- planes do not give any promise of being quire some years of experiment before they could be regarded us practical, pro posals Small details, such as twin- buckles and clips, are now standardized, and only some very marked superiority could justify a change.
used
Those who have seen a passenger drop- (a) That the State should provide the ped by a parachute from an aeroplane whole cost of the building, and should for exhibition purposes often fail to re own the houses for a period to be fixed-alize that when a parachute has to be as a safety appliance the machine
to 200 miles an hour, or spinning down- wards in flames. The additional weight entailed by other safety devices, such us automatic stabilizers and windbrakes. must remain a very important factor under war conditions.
may be expected to have attained a normal level. This period is referred to as the transitional period.
(b) During this period the local authority will act as agents of the State, and will be responsible, subject to the approval of the District Commissioner hereafter described, for building and managing the houses and collecting the rents.
Mr. Balfour, who was cheered on rising, id: On the face of it, nothing can seem more natural er more proper than that the University of London should do what it can, by its influence and by the mankind-the twaking of goods, the trans.say five years at the end of which prices may be out of control, drepping at 150 arrangement of its curriculum. the choice of its professors and lecturers and its degrees, to further the great commercial, financial, and industrial interests on which the greatness of London essential- ly depends. The schne would appear, therefore, to require very little recom- mendation, if any, from its advocates. It would seem to stand entirely by its own merits, and to appeal by its obvious advantages for general support. I think. broadly speaking, that this is true Nevertheless, expressed or unexpressed, I think it has to submit to criticism from two quite opposite quarters. There are a large number of us who, in our hearts if not explicitly, are inclined to think that in the practical matters of life any thing in the nature of academic training is of little value. They consider that the actual work in the particular branch of trade, industry, or finance to which a man means to devote his life's energies is the best training which a man can have. and that everything in addition to that not only adds very little to his effective value as a unit in the great industrial army, but might in some cases actually interfere with his utility,
I do not, I need hardly, say, agree with that confefusion. (Hear, hear.) But let us be quite fair to it.. Let us see exactly what there is to be said for it. It is per. fectly true that no education in the world will make up for the original deficiency, when deficiency there is, in the raw mate rial-if I may use the phrase which has to be educated. Nothing will supply the presence of mother wit. There is no sub stitute for that energy, originality, tact, insight, courage, and enterprise, which in commerce as in every walk of life aro "the surest and most certain" instrumenty
of success.
dition to be satisfied is the provision of proper housing accommodation, without which all other efforts will be fruitless. There are people who really seem to Owing to the high cost of materials, it was clear to the panel that no consider talk us if the infinite activities of the industrial world were: something almost able number of houses would be built in beneath the notice of highly educated the year after the war unless financial and intelligent men. A profounder mis. aid was coming from public funds, and
Few, they propose the following scheme take does not, I believe, exist indeed, are the subjects which have so many aspects of interest as the many sided life of commerce and industrial port of goods, the marketing of goods, financing, and all transactions by which distribution in carried out. These form in the modern world a subject so pro- foundly complicated and interessing that a man to whom the thought of earning his living was unnecessary and who bad ne idea of gain in his mind, might well devote his interests from the purely scientific point of view, his whole, in terests to this great study. It touches cience, it touches polities, it touches social organisation, it touches diplomacy, it touches international relations in every aspect. How could it be truly said the study and knowledge of that, if pra perly taught and understood, had a narrow effect upon any mind whatever It is perfectly true, of course, that the actual work on "which any of us engaged that small fraction, that in finitesimal fraction, of the whole industry over the Empire is in itself looked at from this more general aspect so small and trifling that it seems almost absurd for me to talk of it in relation to the whole of which I have endeavoured to describe to you, but I believe a man will de his work better," he will make that fractional effort more effective, if he is trained instinctively to use it as part of the whole. I am convinced, if a man has any practical genius whatever, if he has any of these qualities which make for success in commerce or anything else, he Will not lose by the fact that he is able to look at his own efforts as part of the great whole to which, with the best of his
are
ability, he is making his modest contri- bation. Cheers.)
ACADEMIC STUDY.
(e) At the end of the transitional period the ownership of the houses will be transferred to the local authorities at a figure to be arrived at by deducting from the original cost, such a percentage, as represents the fall in price of mate rials and labour, together with the fair allowance for depreciation.
(d) During the transitional period the collected by the local authorities as ents, ageuts, will be paid over to the State. In urban districts the aim should be to ix rents at a figure likely to provide a fair-interest, sinking fund, etc., when normal conditions are restored and the abnormal cost has been written off. It rural districts the rents should be fixed in consultation with the Agriculaural Wages Board, and in co-operation with that body raised by stages to a similar figure, which should be reached by the end of the transitional period.
(e) Upon the transfer at the end of the transitional period, it should be incum- bent upon the local authorities to secure, as far as may be practicable, rents sufficient to cover the" annual charger.
(f) It will be clearly impossible to fore cast accurately the date when, conditions baving become normal, the transitional period may be equitably considered to be It may be desirable, there concluded. fore, to give power to the Government of the day to postpone by order the date of the transfer of ownership in any district where circumstances might require it.
Persons acquainted only with motor-eur engine practice sometimes fail to realize the exacting conditions under which ant aeroplane engine must work, or the para.
cant importance of light weight"
per Owing to horse-power.
shortage of labour 'no', new type can
be material and embarked on unless it is
possessed of de finite and immediate superiority over existing types, and inventions, such as the internal combustion turbine, diffor ing radically from present practice, have successive design small possibilities of adoption, because and reconstruction would probably entail several years' work. A silent aeroplane would be of great ad vantage, but the noise of the screw and the hum of the wires are so great that silencing the engine is not sufficient
The trailing bomb or grapnel for at tacking enemy aircraft and submarices is favourite with inventors, but the device has been repeatedly tested, and has been abandoned in favour of more effective methods.
Various anti-aircraft devices are constantly suggested, but now contain little new mintter for consideration, as they have long received attention and been subjected to much trial and experi-
ment
Any proposals of a practical nature that contain beatures of novelty and
possible utility are discussed with the assistance of the Air Service, and the Committee welcomes useful and well-considered pro- posn Inventors, however, should re- member that the somewhat obvious pro- posals" which might have been useful in an earlier stage of the war are now no longer serviceable.
the rules of the competition, on whict ita whole value will necessarily depend. It is suggested that this should be done in
Therefore, my conclusion is that the Those I do not think an natural favour with which everybody, academic education can supply, and if think, connected with the City of London Nature has been originally niggardly in must regard this effort of the University her distribution of those great gifts, of London to improve the study of com
IMPROVED STANDARD OF BUILDING. nothing that we can do will wholly make merce, that the natural favour ought not up for that original defect. It is also to be qualified by either of the kinds of
This scheme, it is pointed out, provides true that we constantly see, and history criticism which I have endeavoured to
an opportunity, which must not be let confring the conclusion, that mere success describe to you to-day. There are cases in examination, the mere power of re in which both criticisms are applicable. slip, of securing permanently a greatly operation with Sir Tudor Walters nomy of design has been referred." But producing rapidly and effectively what it is quite easy to exaggerate the value of improved standard of building. The Committee, to whom the question of eco- has been taught in the lecture room or academic study. It is quite easy to lower Government should, therefore, insist on a
type plans. It is essential that these. save in exceptional circumstances, on a by professors that those qualities do not narrow, and make almost sordid univer-bigh standard of design and lay out, and, it is not enough to obtain a series of good always carry with them-very often, in-sity study, as the other set of critics say,
to the aére to, say, twelve in the towns architect of experience and taste, and deed, they do not carry with them any but 1, making every allowance for the restriction of the number of houses built should be adapted to local needs by an
two opposite forms of attack, I person
The that architectural skill should be employ zure security for success in the day-to-
for administering the ed in laying out the building estates on day practical work of life. That, also, ally, am clearly of opinion that if this and to eight in the country."
responsibility I think has to be admitted. But making academic effort be undertaken, "as it is what allowance you like for those two being undertaken, in the right spirit, if financial aid and the duty of securing town-planning lines Comparatively few qualifications it still remains the true and the teachers understand not merely the promptly an adequate supply of houses architects or surveyors have experience of "settled conclusion of mankind, based technical details of their subject, but if would be placed on the Local Government his work On the other hand, a man who is "a great and difficult undertaking; could, with a little coaching, soon pick of immense value to the educated, and stand, the place which this subject has which will only be practicable if careful up sufficient knowledge to enable him to upon long experience, that education is they understand, as they ought to under- Board, and the Panel point out that is had had good architectural training
in the circuit of human interests, I firmly that if you put in competition two com- munities equally endowed originally by believe that nothing, but good can be at preparations on an adequate scale are lay out cottages on town-planning lines tained by any student who has the time made beforehand. If our estimate is ear. fairly satisfactorily. We think, there- nature, one of which is educated and organised, the other of which is un-
and means to take advantage of the rect it will mean the equivalent of 3,000 fore, that it is very important that the educated and unorganised, the second will course which we hope will be open to him building schemes, each consisting of 100work should be in charge of an architect, be at an undoubted disadvantage it it in consequence of this meeting. I do not house. If only one day were given on otherwise the high standard of design. an average to each set of plans for the and lay-out "which is desired will not be think the University of London will have comes into competition with the fret. (Hear, hear.) It is no adequate reply any cause, except for congratulation, it design and lay-out of 100 houses, it would secured. But unless the Government to say that education often turns out this meeting proves the success I hope it involve six months continuous work gives encouragement it is probable that architect; they will consider that their prigs and pedants. So it does; but the will do, and I believe that the City of for twenty highly-skilled responsible but few local authorities will employ an The Panel recommend that the country surveyor is quite capable of providing any prigs and the pedants, if they had beet London, which depends absolutely, not experts," uneducated, would not, indeed, have upon its geographical position, not upon deserved those particular epithets, but the fact that there are coal, iron, and should be divided into areas, and that professional skill which may be needed."
over each should be placed a District On the question of cost the Panel all the rest of it to be found in this they would probably have been just na useless members of society, the only small island of ours, not upon the fact Housing Commissioner, who shall be appoints eat that it is probable that the difference being and I admit it is a that energy is being thrown into the pointed by and subject to the control of provision of 300,000 houses would involve the President of the Local Government an expenditure in the neighbourhood of difference which tells against my concla- manufactures of the North, but after all, zion-if they had been uneducated they owes its position to the men whom it Board. The first duty of the Commis: 2100,000,000, and the grant in aid, which would have been, though not more useful, breads, and to the way in which they sioner would be to check the returns of it will be necessary for the State to make, more. This is a very large sum of money, somewhat less pretentious members of carry on their businesses they I think the local authority, and to decide how might amount to £25,000,000, or even society. (Hear, bear," and laughter.) should be the first to welcome this effort many houses should be built in each area,
of our university, and to give it that The principle to be followed in arriving and it is to be remembered that Scotland and Ireland are omitted from the calcula practical pecuniary support without at the total number to be built would be which all such effort must be in vain. 1 to make good the additional shortage tion. In Scotland the shortage is even ard markedly lower. It would not, there thank you, my Lord Mayor, for having caused by the war, and to meet the urgent greater than in England, and the stand- take as representing fore, be accurate given me this opportunity of expressing needs of the country districts. my views to the representatives of this great community, and for saying what is
Scotland's need a proportionate sam based my most earnest conviction, that I believe
on the relative population in the two the University of London is doing a great
countries. The claims of Ireland have work for London in carrying out this
also to be considered, where the condi scheme details of which have been laid
tions of housing in the towns, and espc- cially in Dublin,, are notoriously bad.” before you. (Cheers),
THE NARROW OUTLOOK.
There is another kind of criticism levelled against the educational effort which we are all here to assist. That criticism comes from those who think that if you narrow down academic education to the practical needs of life of life you thereby fatally aim and narrow it. Here, again, there is a great deal that is true. Here, again, the criticism must not be dismissed as if it was utterly
It is understood that the President of the Local Government Board has ar ranged with the Royal Institute of British Architects, to institute a competition for series of type plana. It is to be hoped that great care will be taken in drafting (Continued as foot of next Column.)
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