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Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1936, Page 4

Some researches are concerned with matters that seem at the time to be for removed from any practical consequences, although they have a .surprising habit of reversing hasty decisions on that point, says Sir William Bragg director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, in discussing in the Morning Post whither scientific discovery may lead. Of this kind, Sir W.ililam continues, A\e may take as an example that which Lord Rutherford and his school are carrying on at Cambridge. Th e field of inquiry is the interior of the atom. Indeed, it is even more limited than that. The width of an atom is about one hunded-mil-lionth of an inch; the nucleus is minute in comparison with the atom. But the nuecleus is, so to speak, the centre of government, if it is broken into pieces, or it two nucleus are welded into one, the old atoms disappear and atoms of new style and new properties take their places. It is a matter of extraordinary interest that the very elements of which the universe is made should he capable of change and, what is more, of change at the will' of man. True, the change is excessively 'rare and most difficult to bring about. But the knowledge that it can occur, and the study of the manner in which it is made, bring revolutionary changes into thought and outlook. And sooner or later, if we may judge by precedent, the practical consequences will also be of extraordinary interest.