Among some parents of boys of school leaving age the idea still survives that a career in industry is not so "respectable" as one in the Services or professions. That such a point of view is not only out of date, but harmful, was the theme of a speech made by Lord Hives (Chairman of Rolls-Royce, Ltd.) when he opened the extensions to Nottingham University's engineering laboratories on April 14th. Industry today, he said, provided the life-blood of the nation; without it, we should be finished as a great power.
In the year 1950-51, 72.5 per cent of Britain's university students were in some measure or other assisted financially by the State; yet of the full-time undergraduate population only 12.4 per cent were studying technology. Saying the Government were tackling the problem, Lord Hives instanced the decision to expand the Imperial College of Science and Technology, and the plans to make resources available in other parts of the country.
Source: Flight International
