The Science Society

from the floor of the House, mostly in support of the proposal, but on being put to the vote the motion was defeated by 35 votes to 26 votes with 7 abstentions.

The fourth and last meeting of the term was chosen for a political debate. The motion was "That the present Conservative Government has disappointed its supporters". The proposition, R. D. Wheatley and J. B. Claydon, maintained that it was the duty of a loyal supporter of the Conservative party to criticise the Government constructively. The Conservative Government had made a good start, but they were now in the doldrums. There were many gaps in Government policy, such as the handling of purchase tax and rent control. There was no far-sighted policy for agriculture. Trade with the Commonwealth was being hindered by commitments to foreign countries. The Government should give its full support to European defence. If these gaps were filled, the proposition concluded, the Government would be stronger and far more effective. The opposition, W. R. Ibberson and J. H. Baines, claimed that the downward trend in the economy of the country had been halted. Time was needed to judge the Government fairly. Britain now had a more effective voice in the framing of Western policy and relations with the United States had improved. The strong policy of the Government had saved the Suez Canal from seizure by the Egyptians and the Sudan question had been settled. The Government had made us realise that we could not live in a fool's paradise and its achievements were great and many. The debate was thrown open to the House. True allegiance to the Conservative party was at stake and many accusations and taunts were made. Opinion was fairly evenly divided. On being put to the vote, however, the motion was carried by 47 votes to 36 votes with 2 abstentions.

Thus ended a successful term for the Debating Society. Enthusiasm for the Society seems now to be strongest in the middle of the School, and support from the seniors is not all it might be. However, there have been many new and promising young speakers and there is a waiting list for membership, so we can report that the Debating Society is in a very healthy condition. Before closing our last meeting it was deemed right that we should thank Mr. Le Tocq for all the time and energy he has put into the Chairmanship of the Society. R.D.W

President: E. K. RosmsoN, EsQ. Secretary: J. FORD. Treasurer: W. R. IBBERSON. House Representatives: Grove: D. A. STABLER, N. W. M. CARR. Manor: C. M. DUNN, R. A. JACKSON. School House: J. M. HOLT, J. P. WHEATLEY.

Rise: J. B. HUZZARD, W. R. IBBERSON. Temple: A. G. D. STAINES, P. J. NETHERWOOD.

Four meetings were held this term, the first being sponsored by the Grove. It consisted of three lectures. The first entitled "Instruments of the 'Orchestra" was originally to have been given by Hawkins, but owing to his unfortunate indisposition the lecture was given by P. L. Bardgett at very short notice. He described all the instruments in the main sections of a modern orchestra, and added interest to his talk by demonstrating some of them.

R. F. Scales then gave a talk on "The Development of Railways", tracing their growth from the wagon and tramways used in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. It was pointed out that George Stephenson was not, as many people think, the first man to build a steam-driven locomotive, although he was extremely successful. At this time passenger trains travelled at about '20 m.p.h. and it cost five shillings for a journey of 30 miles. Scales finished his lecture by describing the growth of the London and North 'Eastern Railway from 4922 to 1948.

The last lecture of the evening, "'Methods of Recording", was given by R. Shepherd. He described how the first recordings were made on a wax cylinder. With the introduction of the valve, and hence amplification, much better methods of recording were devised, as he showed by playing a modern 78 revs. per minute recording in contrast with an old one. Shepherd ended by demonstrating the tape recorder which he had built.

At the end of this meeting the film "A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" was shown in conjunction with the first lecture.

Mr. Lanning was in the Chair.

At the second meeting of the term the evening's programme was provided by School House. "(Diagnosis by X-rays", the first of three lectures, was given by IM. J. McCallum. Rontogen first discovered X-rays whilst passing a high voltage current through a vacuum, but it was not until later that their penetrating properties were discovered. The talk was illustrated by actual X-ray photographs of such things as the pelvic girdle, lung, and skull. McCallum ended his lecture by mentioning that the absorption of rays is inversely proportional to the atomic weight of the substance, and demonstrated an X-ray tube in action, showing how a penny could be seen inside a purse.

The second lecture of the evening, "from Gear-box to Differential", was given 'by J. 'P. 'Wheatley. The clutch assembly was first of all explained, followed by the gear-box. 'He then went on to describe how the crown and pinion converts a longitudinal drive into a transverse one. Wheatley ended his lecture by describing the differential in a car, this being a contrivance which enables the back wheels to revolve at different rates, thus preventing skidding when a corner is taken.

The last lecture was one on "Atomic Energy" given by Holt. As an introduction to nuclear chemistry he described the emission of rays from such radioactive substances as radium, and explained the difference between a chemical and radioactive change. Continuing, he explained why no atomic engine had so far been produced, and mentioned that if mass and energy were interchangeable as Einstein suggested, then 11 gram of matter could give 125 million kilowatt hours. Holt ended his lecture by describing how an atomic pile worked, and also the elementary principles involved in an atomic bomb. 'Mr. 'Jeffs was in the Chair.

At the third meeting of the term an illustrated talk was given by Mr. •Mason, of the York Camera Club, who showed us some Kodachrome transparencies that he had himself taken. They were not, he said, all perfect, but he had purposely included some which would illustrate certain common faults; for even the best photographers were constantly making mistakes. Whilst the slides were being shown he pointed out any interesting features in the picture, and also faults which he thought were evident. 'Amongst the many tips he gave were "Do not buy an expensive camera or start taking colour photographs at first, but let it come later after some experience of handling a camera has been gained".

Mr. 'Crews was in the Chair.

Manor provided speakers for the last meeting of term. The first lecture was given by R. M. 'Botterill on the "Origin, Training, and Care of a Horse". He described how the horse had descended from an animal not much larger than a terrier, and how, as it became faster it raised itself up on to its toes, until now it runs on one toe nail. The horse at one time had a small trunk, which, although it has now disappeared, may still be seen on the Tapir, which is a close relative. Botterill ended his lecture by describing how a horse is broken in, and finally he mentioned a few of its more common ailments.

The second lecture of the evening was given by the Secretary, J. Ford, on the "Development of a Modern Two-stroke Engine". He began by saying what the two-stroke offered, especially in relation to its efficiency and ease of maintenance compared with a four-stroke. He then went on to explain how a two-stroke worked and dismantled an engine so that the working parts could be easily seen. To end the lecture Ford described the various lubrication systems employed in two-strokes, and finally mentioned the new split-single engine, as used in Italy.

The last lecture of the evening was given by Elston on "Gyroscopes and their Uses". 'He outlined the path of researches in gyroscopic action since the earliest spinning tops as far as firing a rifle bullet and throwing a disc. He then illustrated some of its uses such as the '24