29 JULY 1955, Page 7

LORD HIVES should be an admirable chairman of the National

Council of Diplomas in Technology. He himself entered Rolls- Royce at the age of 18, and has remained there ever since. He thus, in his own career, represents the 'practical bias' of the aero-engine and aircraft industry. But no great firm has under- stood better than his the very delicate business of getting research-minded scientists to work fruitfully with engineers. It is one of this country's most precious gifts that it can produce 'pure' scientists of the highest order; it is our most important economic tradition that we can produce hardware. But every- one knows—or ought to know—that we are not as good as the Americans in the in-between field of scientific technology. It is Lord Hives's .job to make us better. It could hardly be more important. * * *