Official Story

Sir—I have read the report "Scientists Need Air" in last weeks Salient and would be obliged if you would publish this additional Departmental comment.

The University is organised on a departmental basis and as needs appear in any department they are met by seeking additional resources. In the case discussed, the Physics Department some years ago bought a liquid air machine. Within the Chemistry Department a similar need subsequently developed and was met initially by a not uncommon arrangement wherby the Physics Department supplied liquid air. No question of payment arose, and the Physics Department was good enough to underwrite the expenditure of technician time involved. The use of liquid air in the Chemistry Department thereafter increased very rapidly and reached a point where it was hardly fair to expect another department to act as the source of supply and at this stage an application was lodged with the Research Grants Committee. This body, after examining the position fully, agreed to the request. This was early in 1961. During Term the machine is running three days weekly and I have no doubt it will be even more fully in use over the next two or three years.

The phrase "recent departmental squabble" appears inappropriate, and the suggestion in the last paragraph, that the destination of the first machine was ever in doubt, can hardly be taken seriously. I also find it impossible to make any logical sense of the sentence: "The Chemistry Department applied to buy a machine itself, but instead was granted one.