Is Scientific Inquiry a Criminal Occupation?

Abstract

I ASK the question because, under the provisions of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, which came into operation on October 1, scientific workers and the public may be fined one-third of the value on all scientific appliances and on all chemicals—other than sulphate of quinine—imported into this country. Why this quinine salt alone of all chemicals should be free I do not understand, unless it be because it is largely used as a contraceptive and the philanthropic framers of the Act are alive to the fact, which of all others is the most important for us to recognise, that our country has double the population it can carry. Obviously, they are bent on discouraging and hindering scientific inquiry in every possible way; the Act can have no other effect; only a small proportion of the articles it covers are, or ever will be, made in this country. No more iniquitous measure was ever passed into law.