SIR ERNEST RUTHERFORD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19261, 27 August 1924, Page 4

SIR ERNEST RUTHERFORD.

PRESENTATION OF FRANKLIN MEDAL. PRIME MINISTER’S TRIBUTE. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 19. At the Foreign Office, on Monday, M; Charles Trevelyan, President of the Boarr of Education, representing the Prime Minister, delivered to Sir Ernest Rutherford, Cavendish Professor of Physics r.‘ Cambridge University, the franklin Medal and Certificate*of Honorary Mem bership awarded to him by the Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania in recognition of successful researches signally contribut ing to the present state of knowledge o; the elements, their constitution and rcla tionship. This is the fourth time tha: a British scientist has been awarded the medal.

Mr Trevelyan read a letter from the Prime Minister congratulating Sir Ernes! Rutherford, and regretting his own in ability to be present and hand him tin medal, and, proceeding, said that th. medal was awarded yearly to thoe< workers in physical science or technology, without regard to country, whose effort; had, in the judgment of the Institute done most to advance the knowledge o' physical science or its applications. Sir Ernest Rutherford was peculiarly fitted t< he the recipient of the Institute’s medal for he was one of tha njost emineu: workers in the field of molecular physic: and a pioneer of the modern atomi theory. He'was beyond question tin greatest experimentalist alive now. The Earl of Balfour, in congratulating Sir Ernest, emphasised the great value c : his work, which had deservedly won fc him this distinction. He pointed ou! that of four Cavendish professors, thro Irad now been awarded the Franklin Medal.

Sir E. Rutherford, in reply, said h~ was doubly pleased to receive this honour First, he felt that this -was an honour conferred through him on our nation, am. was therefore a mark of the goodwill o' the Institute. Tire association of Frank lin’s name with the medal was a happ;. one, as he was a great believer in co operation between nations. The Institute encouraged the intellectual relations o. nations which contributed toward such cooperation .and therefore towards minimir ing the chances of war, which' he hated He had said that there was never a goou war, nor a bad peace. Among those present, were Lord Ba’ four, Lord Rayleigh, Sir Charles Shoi rington (President of the Royal Society). Sir William M'Cormick, Sir Artlnr Schuster, Dr E. C. Pearce (Vice-Chan ce.llor of Cambridge University), Mr J E. P. Rawlinson, K.C., M.P., and Pro fessor A. Griffiths.