PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
गय
TIT
Reference :-
C.O.8
•885
17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
78
preparation of lectures for use especially in this country in regard to the dominions beyond the seas, I have come to the following conclusion:-
The photographs sent home by the various Governments during the prepara- tion of the present series are wholly inadequate for any more extended purpose than that of an introductory lecture. It is quite evident that, except on a special subject here and there, you cannot obtain in the open market or by the use of local resources an adequate series of photographs which shall consistently represent the Colonies and be free from copyright difficulties. I think that we had better at once face the fact that it is only by employing a first-rate photographer of some artistic power and setting him to travel steadily through the Empire with first-rate apparatus at his command and the introductions which are obviously at the disposal of the Committee, that we can attain our object. He would, of course, send home three or four times the number of developed negatives that would be required, and from these our selection would be made. He would receive instructions before starting from the writer of the lectures, but the lectures would not actually be settled until the slides had been finally selected. The cost of such a plan would, of course, be considerable, but, in my opinion, we had better face the fact at once that no second-best effort is worth the trouble that is inevitable in connection with the scheme.
November 28, 1906.
No. 115.
H. J. MACKINDER.
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE,
NOVEMBER 28, 1906.
PRESENT:
The Earl of Meath (in the Chair).
Sir Cecil Clementi Smith.
Sir Philip Hutchins.
Dr. Heath.
Mr. Sadler.
Mr. Mackinder.
Mr. Lucas, and
Mr. Hunter, Secretary.
The minutes of the last meeting, having been circulated previously to members of the Committee, were adopted.
Correspondence.
Arising out of the correspondence which had taken place since last meeting, copies of which had already been communicated to members, Mr. Mackinder dealt with, and replied to, the criticisms on the lantern lectures which had been made by the Principal of the Raffles Institution at Singapore. It was agreed to defer taking any action in the matter until reports and criticisms had been received from other Colonies.
Completion of the Four Editions for Tropical Colonies.
Mr. Mackinder reported that these editions had now been completed and sent to the respective Colonies,
Indian Edition.
A letter from the India Office was read enquiring whether the lectures and slides for this edition would be provided in the current financial year. Mr. Mackinder assured the Committee that a reply in the affirmative might safely be returned.
79
In connection with the preparation of the first lecture in the Indian edition, Mr. Mackinder intimated that he would be glad of an opportunity of discussing the matter with some. Indian official well acquainted with the country, and suggested that he might consult Sir Thomas Holdich. Sir Philip Hutchins mentioned Sir W. Lee Warner and Sir Charles Lyall as likely to be of considerable assistance, and undertook to facilitate Mr. Mackinder's wishes. The scope of the first lecture, which would deal to a great extent with a journey through India, was discussed at some length.
'Composite" Edition for the United Kingdom.
Mr. Mackinder suggested the issue of an edition for use in the United Kingdom, based on the Indian edition, with the addition of the first lectures of some of the Colonial editions, it being understood that the Government of India would not be likely to raise the question of the copyright of the Indian edition in this country. The initial cost, ie, the reprinting of the lectures to be utilized, might be defrayed from the balance standing to the credit of the Eastern Colonies Lectures Account, the venture being undertaken by the Eastern Colonies. Arrangements could be made for Messrs. Newton to undertake the sale of the slides to accompany the "composite" edition, and also to sell the book of
It was suggested that some such arrangement as the following might be made in connection with these sales:-
lectures.
•
(1) Messrs. Newton to account for sales of the book, deducting, say, 10 per cent. A royalty of, say, 25 per cent. to be paid to Mr. Mackinder, and the remainder, that is to say, about 65 per cent., to be paid to the Eastern Colonies Fund.
(2) Complete sets of the slides to be sold by Messrs. Newton for, say, £45,
of which sum Messrs. Newton would retain £40, leaving, say, £2 10s. to be paid to Mr. Mackinder, and £2 10s. to the Eastern Colonies Fund.
Question of Editions for Canada and South Africa.
Mr. Lucas informed the Committee that nothing further had been received from Canada or South Africa.
Mr. Mackinder then intimated that on reconsideration, he had arrived at the conclusion that the present editions, having been prepared expressly for use in tropical Colonies, were hardly adapted for Colonies in the temperate zones, and that it would be preferable to prepare a new series of lectures for such Colonies. It was, therefore, decided that the idea of adapting the present lectures for Canada and South Africa should be abandoned, at any rate for the present. The special tropical editions just sent out, however, should be brought to the notice of Colonies in the several groups which had not yet participated in the scheme.
Question of Notice to the Press and a United Kingdom Edition. Mr. Mackinder read a memorandum* (dated the 28th November) and submitted a proposal that, with a view to the preparation of a series of lantern lectures on the Colonies for use in the United Kingdom, an expert and artistic photographer should be engaged to tour the Colonies and collect material for slides. He estimated the cost at £2,500. The Committee approved of the suggestion, and it was agreed that, in the first instance, Mr. Mackinder should speak to Lord Milner and to Mr. Boyd, Secretary to the Rhodes Trust, with the object of ascertaining whether the Trust, if approached officially, would agree to provide funds for this purpose. Should this effort be successful, a suitable notice might be prepared and communi- cated to the Press, announcing the decision of the Rhodes Trust and giving an outline of the history of the scheme.
• No. 114.