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annum upon the work of developing the resources of their comparatively small Colonies on scientific lines.
11. The example thus set by other nations is one which we can hardly refuse to follow if our Colonies are to compete on even terms with theirs, and, while we are spending very large sums on the acquisition and administration of new terri- tories like the African Protectorates, it would seem worth while to expend also the comparatively small sums required to enable the resources of those territories to be investigated, and secure the best return for the money laid out upon them,
12. The nucleus of such a Department as is required exists already in the Scientific and Technical Department of the Imperial Institute, which was estab- lished in 1896 to conduct investigations and acquire information regarding the natural resources of the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Empire, with a view to the creation of new openings in trade and the promotion of agricultural and industrial development.
13. During the ten years 1896-1905 many subjects involving special scientific and technical investigation have been reported upon to the Governments of the British Colonies and Protectorates; while in the United Kingdom commercial firms, manufacturers, brokers, and others, are making increasing use of the Department as a means of acquiring information respecting new supplies of the products which they require, and as to new materials suitable to their needs, and are also coming to the Department for advice as to improvements in the processes employed in utilizing these materials in manufacturing operations.
14. But, in addition to the conduct of investigations in this country and the collection and supply of information concerning the development of agricultural and mineral resources, with which the Department is at present mainly occupied, there is another direction in which the organisation can be of very great assistance, namely, in supplying competent and trustworthy persons to visit the Colonics and Protectorates for the purpose of making special investigations and reports.
15. The work of examining and reporting on the value of products when received in this country, and bringing them to the notice of merchants and manu- facturers, must be supplemented by systematic exploration of the Colonies and Protectorates themselves, if their resources are to be speedily and fully developed. With this object, mineral surveys are now being conducted under the supervision of the Director of the Institute in Ceylon and in Northern or Southern Nigeria, and the results achieved indicate that this plan of operations could be usefully extended to other subjects. In these cases trained specialists attached to the Department proceed to the Colony or Protectorate for a limited period in each year for the purpose of exploration and the collection of exact information and of material for examination at the Imperial Institute, returning to this country each year to assist in dealing with the problems which have arisen. The work is thus carried on in constant touch with the Colonial Governments and others in the Colonies, as well as with scientific, technical, and commercial experts in this country. 16. There is no lack of young men in this country who have received a sound scientific education, and there are many who have received, in addition, a general agricultural or geological training, or have been engaged in mining operations; but the persons employed to visit the Colonies and Protectorates must not only be thoroughly versed in the sciences on which agricultural and mineral development depend, but also have been thoroughly trained in the special work of examining and determining the value of different kinds of natural products, and it is essential that, while familiar with the commercial aspects of the subject, they should have no connexion with any commercial enterprise, but should be in a position to make reports which could be relied upon as independent.
17. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a staff of trained specialists possess- ing not only the requisite knowledge and experience, but also independence of any commercial interests, who could both be employed in London upon the work of examining the composition and the possibilities of the raw materials sent from the Colonies and Protectorates, and also be from time to time detached for the purpose of proceeding to the countries concerned in order to explore their resources and collect complete information, as well as the materials required for further investi- gation.
18. The staff of the Department at present consists of (1) eighteen skilled assistants (in addition to six who are conducting mineral surveys in the Colonies under the general supervision of the Director) and (2) a number of external referees on various subjects, who supply special information and undertake technical trials
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and valuations of materials, the composition and probable uses of which have been ascertained in the laboratories.
19. Six rooms at the Imperial Institute have been fitted and equipped as laboratories and working rooms, and in these the investigation of the composition and uses of the raw materials is conducted. Reference sample rooms containing selected samples of various Colonial and Indian products of ascertained composition and value have also been arranged for the convenience of enquirers; and for the information of the general public the resources of each Colony and Protectorate and of India are illustrated by the exhibition of their products fully described and accompanied by maps, diagrams, and tabular statements, in the public galleries.
20. The expenses of the Department, inclusive of salaries and wages, books, apparatus, &c., but exclusive of clerical assistance and laboratory fittings, amount to about £1,000 per annum. The work is, however, increasing, and additional expenditure will be required to keep pace with it.
21. The income of the Department is chiefly derived from a grant of £2,000 per annum from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. Some of the clerical and general expenses are defrayed from the income of the invested funds of the Imperial Institute. There are also at present certain special grants for short periods, amounting to £1,550 a year, which are being made by British Colonies and Protectorates and by India; and a grant of £500 per annum for four years from the funds of the United Kingdom has recently been placed by the Treasury at the disposal of the Board of Trade for cotton growing investigations to be conducted at the Institute.
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22. The grant of £2,000 a year, however, was made by the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 provisionally for the initiation of scientific and technical work in connexion with Colonial development, which was a new departure in this country, and, now that the work has been successfully started, the Commissioners have intimated that they will not continue it. Unless, therefore, other arrange- ments can be made to provide the necessary funds, the important work which the Department is doing must come to an end.
23. It would not be practicable for the Colonies alone to maintain in London a permanent establishment of the kind required; nor would it, having regard to the benefit which the United Kingdom would derive from such an organisation, be reasonable that they should bear the whole cost. It is suggested, therefore, that the Department should be supported partly by a grant from the Imperial Exchequer and partly by contributions from the Colonies, &c. interested. This arrangement would apply only to the permanent establishment in London. The whole cost of the officers when detached from the Department for service abroad would be borne by the Colony or other country in which they were employed. The Colonies would also, as at present, maintain their own Botanical Stations, Agricultural Departments, &c., which would work in co-operation with the Department.
24. India and many of the Colonies already make annual contributions to the funds of the Imperial Institute, amounting to rather more than £2,000 a year These subscriptions are, however, paid as contributions towards the general expenses of the Institute in connexion with the care and maintenance of the Colonial and Indian collections in the exhibition galleries, and are not available for the purposes of the Scientific and Technical Department. The special subscriptions, amounting to £1,550 a year at present, which are referred to in the twenty-first paragraph of this letter as being paid towards the expenses of the Department, are in connexion with special investigations and for limited periods only.
25. If, however, His Majesty's Government undertook to make an annual contribution of not less than £2,000 a year (to take the place of the grant hitherto made by the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851) towards the cost of the establishment in London upon condition that an equal amount at least should be raised by subscriptions from the Colonial and other Governments interested. Lord Elgin would be prepared to invite the Colonial Governments to subscribe, and it may fairly be anticipated, having regard to the sums already subscribed to the Institute and to the arrangements made in the case of special investigations by the Scientific and Technical Department, that permanent subscriptions making up the required amount would be obtained. It is assumed, of course, that the portion of the building at South Kensington which is at present occupied by the Imperial Institute, as well as a portion of the income of the endowment fund of the Institute, of which
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mposition and probable uses of which have been
ial Institute have been fitted and equipped as nd in these the investigation of the composition conducted. Reference sample rooms containing I and Indian products of ascertained composition 1 for the convenience of enquirers; and for the the resources of cach Colony and Protectorate exhibition of their products fully described and id tabular statements, in the public galleries.
artment, inclusive of salaries and wages, books, erical assistance and laboratory fittings, amount e work is, however, increasing, and additional p pace with it.
tment is chiefly derived from a grant of £2,000 ission for the Exhibition of 1851. Some of the defrayed from the income of the invested funds re also at present certain special grants for short ir, which are being made by British Colonies and 1 grant of £500 per annum for four years from has recently been placed by the Treasury at the cotton growing investigations to be conducted at
ar, however, was made by the Commissioners for lly for the initiation of scientific and technical levelopment, which was a new departure in this has been successfully started, the Commissioners continue it. Unless, therefore, other arrange- necessary funds, the important work which the o an end.
le for the Colonies alone to maintain in London a nd required; nor would it, having regard to the m would derive from such an organisation, be e whole cost. It is suggested, therefore, that the partly by a grant from the Imperial Exchequer the Colonics, &c. interested. This arrangement establishment in London. The whole cost of the
epartment for service abroad would be borne by ch they were employed. The Colonies would also, otanical Stations, Agricultural Departments, &c., with the Department.
Colonies already make annual contributions to c, amounting to rather more than £2,000 a year. aid as contributions towards the general expenses
the care and maintenance of the Colonial and galleries, and are not available for the purposes partment. The special subscriptions, amounting
are referred to in the twenty-first paragraph of he expenses of the Department, are in connexion r limited periods only.
ty's Government undertook to make an annual 10 a year (to take the place of the grant hitherto e Exhibition of 1851) towards the cost of the dition that an equal amount at least should be Tolonial and other Governments interested, Lord he Colonial Governments to subscribe, and it may d to the sums already subscribed to the Institute the case of special investigations by the Scientific permanent subscriptions making up the required ssumed, of course, that the portion of the building present occupied by the Imperial Institute, as the endowment fund of the Institute, of which
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :→→
+885
17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO