Canadian Research

Certainly Professor John Cunningham M'Lennan of the University of Toronto knew that his speech before the Professional Institute of the Canadian Civil Service, at Ottawa last week, was one of rhetorical exaggeration. They were lunching and Canadian ministers and high governmental officials were at the tables. Professor

M'Lennan, who has directed the university's physical laboratory since 1907, for 30 years has been compaigning for a Canadian National Research Institute. To the eating officials last week he said that he did not wish to be personal, but that he could not keep from criticizing them for their failure to grasp the significance of scientific research in the development of industry. Lack of Canadian appreciation of scientific research in relation to industry, said he, was responsible for many brilliant men and much capital leaving Canada for the U. S., a country where the servant was worthy of his hire and where advantage was taken of every opportunity. He closed his speech on a note personal to himself--the inadequate salaries paid Canadian professors. He could not possibly carry on his own work and support his family, did not his relatives help him with money. Charles Stewart, Canadian Minister of the Interior, replied softly and noncommittally to Professor M'Lennan's exhortations, thanked him for the ideas, hoped that public opinion would rally behind such men and reward them according to their true worth. Some facts which dull Professor M'Lennan's argument, essential as a Canadian Research Institute is, and valuable as it would be, are these: 1) There is a Royal Canadian Institute. It functions as a forum and is rather academic in its attitude. However, it has a pervasive, slow influence on Canadian science and industry. Professor M'Lennan belongs to it. In 1916-17 he was its president. 2) More "practical" is the Honorary Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of Canada. To this he also belongs. 3) Finally, Canada in proportion to population and national wealth has more scientific and technical societies than has the U. S.*; videlicet: Canada U. S. Ratio

Population (millions) 9 117 1 to 13.0

National wealth (billions) $22 $321 1 to 14.6

Societies 74 709 1 to 9.58

* In the U. S. are 999 privately owned & operated industrial research laboratories, besides. Canada has an unknown number.