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LORD RITCHIE‐CALDER, CHAIRMAN OF THE METRICATION Board, has summed up its functions in the following way:

We are precious few in number. Naturally the editor of this worthy journal counts; playing it safe, so I am sure do most of its readers. To play it even safer I had better include my own worthy newspapers' bosses—and publisher — MP Mr Robert Maxwell, who at the present rate of projected take‐over is about to become the new Lord of the Sun and a few other things besides. Throw in a handful of others … Our Harold, hallowed is his name (though not to many these days), Ted Heath, but not, for goodness sake, Mr Jeremy Thorpe or the latest would‐be party leader Mr Desmond Donnelly, and that's it. There you have the specially gifted, the super élite, the gold‐capped cream of the nation. (No wonder we sing to God to save the Queen!).

Mr J.M. Craddock (Meteorological Office, Bracknell) said that the 130 or so members of the World Meteorological Organization were presently planning improved systems for the collection and transmission of meteorological data, under the general title of the Western Weather Watch, and for the storage and retrieval of this data for research, exchange and other purposes. The current world stock of data digitized for computer use exceeded 1012 decimal digits, divided among many centres, with a large annual increment. The problems of exchanging and manipulating these data were to be reduced by the adoption by WMO of the recommended standard type of magnetic tape and recommended formats for the exchange, etc., of nearly all types of data. The problem of a system of cataloguing and classification suitable for world use was becoming urgent, both for data and, to a lesser extent, for the increasing stream of meteorological literature. The three speakers had given excellent and lucid accounts of the work which was being done to set up international standards for the classification and exchange of information, but the question arose of whether the mechanisms of discussion and decision could work quickly enough to keep ahead of the requirements of the computer age. As an example of the time scale on which firm guidance would be desirable, the British Meteorological Office was to acquire an IBM 195 computer which was about one hundred times more powerful than the one at present in use, and would be one of the most powerful in Europe. This was due to become operational by October 1971 and by that time decisions had to be taken on the cataloguing of data, which, if possible, would have to be in line with thinking elsewhere. However, decisions had to be reached even if intentions elsewhere were unknown, and once these decisions were embodied in computer programs they may be hard to modify or reverse.

THE Metrication Board, with Lord Ritchie‐Calder as chairman, began its existence on the first of this month. Its function is persuasive rather than mandatory, since there is no intention of any Whitehall plan being imposed on us. It is a voluntary movement which can rely upon Government support in areas which investigation has shown to be in need of it.

LORD ORR‐EWING, chairman of the Metrication Board, is tall and slim and walks with the effortlessly controlled quickness of an athlete. But this is not surprising, because he is an athlete, if only a part‐time one.

One of the good‐intentioned phrases which has become current in international relations is ‘investment in human resources’.

WITH decimal currency achieved, another major upheaval to our national way of life looms on the horizon. We are no strangers to metrication. It was officially recognized by the Metric Act of 1864 which limited its use to scientific purposes. A further Weights and Measures (Metric System) Act, 1897, made it lawful to use the metric system in industry and commerce, but made almost no difference to the country's daily life.

PUBLIC LIBRARIANS outside London watch with attention/pleasure/alarm the results of governmental thinking on the re‐organisation of local government. Londoners will be more detached but, remembering 1965 and fingering their old scars, will have sympathy.

May THU.7. Aslib Northern Branch Annual General Meeting. Bisra, Sheffield. 2 p.m.

Science, which exists to rebut magic and disprove superstition, is in danger of creating its own magic and encouraging a new superstition. This is due to the ‘jargon’ of science, an abracadabra, which produces results that mystify, and to the release of stupendous forces, to which ignorance gives the quality of The Unknown. It is no exaggeration to say that just as our primitive ancestors stood in superstitious awe and fear of the elemental forces—the sun, the lightning, the storm, the earthquake—and ascribed them to the Supernatural, so today, for the greater part of mankind, man‐made elemental forces, manifested in explosions and radiations, have that same quality of awe and fear. They ascribe them, not to the Supernatural but, to the Superman, the scientist.