PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O-885
17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
(C. 1266.)
10
Exhibition of 1851, Royal Commissioners,
SIR,
54, Victoria Street, S.W., February 24, 1906. I AM directed by the Board of Management of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 to state that they have had under consideration your letter of 19th December last, asking for a provisional continuance of the grants heretofore made by them for the support of the research laboratory of the Imperial Institute, and to inform you in reply thereto that they feel themselves obliged to adhere to their previous decision, as communicated to the Board of Trade in their letter of 12th February, 1904.
I am, &c., ARTHUR ELLIS, Major-General,
To Sir Francis J. S. Hopwood, K.C.B., The Secretary, Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, S.W.
19209
SIR,
No. 5.
BOARD OF TRADE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received May 30, 1906.)
[Answered by No. 9.]
Secretary.
Board of Trade (Commercial Department),
7, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W.,
May 29, 1906.
WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the Imperial Institute, and especially to your letter of the 29th March✶ and enclosure, I am directed by the Board of Trade to enclose, for the information of the Earl of Elgin, copy of a letter received from the Treasury and of the Board's reply thereto.
In this connection I am to state that the Board's attention has been called to the financial position that would result from the adoption of the scheme now before the Treasury, with the support both of the Colonial Office and of this Department.
At present, roughly, the total annual income of the Imperial Institute, in addition to the funds separately administered by the India Office, is about £10,500, of which about £4,300 is derived from the endowment, rent of the North Gallery, &c., £3,000 from the Colonies (exclusive of India), £2,000 from the Commissioners of the 1851 Exhibition, and the remainder from India and various miscellaneous sources.
Should the present scheme be adopted the Colonial contribution would be at least £5,000, and if the work extended as anticipated, it would probably not be long before the larger proportion of the total revenue of the Institute was supplied from this source, the Board of Trade having no funds at its command for this purpose other than those derived from the endowment (which is quite inelastic) and from any Treasury contribution that may be sanctioned.
In these circumstances, the Board are disposed to think that there would be advantages (subject, of course, to a satisfactory arrangement with the India Office and the Government of India) if the Secretary of State for the Colonies would be prepared to assume a larger degree of responsibility for the conduct of the Imperial Institute than at present.
Should Lord Elgin concur in principle in this view it remains to consider what immediate steps are possible to give effect thereto under the existing Act.
It appears to the Board that under Section 7 of the Act some suitable arrange- ments on this line might be made with the concurrence of the two Departments. Under this section the Board of Trade are empowered to "take such steps, to make such arrangements, and employ such persons as they think necessary or expedient for carrying out their duties under this Act."
The Board are now prepared, if desired, to consider with the Secretary of State how far an arrangement is possible between the Departments with respect to the management of such branches of work of the Imperial Institute as are at
• No. 3.
11
present carried on under their control at South Kensington (i.e., excluding such work as is carried on in the City in connection with their Conimercial Intelligence Branch, and without prejudice to the special position of the Indian Sub-Committee). No change would be necessary in the trustees of the Imperial Institute, who consist at present of the First Commissioner of His Majesty's Treasury, the Secretaries of State for the Colonies and for India, and the President of the Board of Trade.
As regards the Advisory Committee of the Imperial Institute, the Board of Trade at present appoint four members and the Secretary of State two. Two of the Board's nominees and one of those of the Secretary of State are at present officials of the Departments. If some arrangement could be concluded it might be desirable that the Board of Trade should withdraw one of their officials and appoint a successor on the recommendation of the Secretary of State, and a similar course could be taken, if desired, with respect to one of their non-official nominees on the occurrence of a vacancy.
As Lord Elgin will be aware, the Board of Trade have appointed Sir C. Clementi Smith (who represents the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the Advisory Committee) and Sir A. Bateman (who represents the Board of Trade on that Committee), to be joint managers of the Imperial Institute at South Kensington on their behalf. Should proposals of the nature made in this letter be adopted, the continuance or otherwise of this arrangement will be for consideration, but so far as its composition is concerned, the present managing Committee would appear to be equally suitable to the proposed and to the existing system of manage-
ment.
Doubtless there would be legal difficulties as regards complete delegation of management and financial control without legislation, but, if Lord Elgin concurs, any points of detail might be referred to a small Committee, representing the two Departments, for consideration and report.
I have, &c.,
(C. 3142.) (5687/06.)
Enclosure 1 in No. 5.
H. LLEWELLYN SMITH.
Treasury Chambers, May 5, 1906.
SIR,
I AM directed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith, copy of a letter which they have received from the Colonial Office on the subject of the Scientific and Technical Department of the Imperial Institute, and to request that my Lords may be furnished with the observations of the Board of Trade on the suggestion made by the Colonial Office.
N
The Secretary,
Board of Trade.
(C. 3142.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 5.
I am, &c.,
G. H. MURRAY.
Board of Trade, (Commercial Department),
7, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W.,
May 10, 1906.
SIR,
I AM directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, transmitting copy of a communication from the Colonial Office on the subject of the Scientific and Technical Department of the Imperial Institute, and asking for the observations of the Board of Trade upon the suggestion made by the Colonial Office.
In reply, I ant to say that the Board of Trade fully concur in the view expressed by the Colonial Office as to the importance of maintaining and extending the work of the Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute, and that they support the Colonial Office request for an annual Treasury grant on condition that at least an equal amount should be contributed by the Colonial and other Governments
26049
B 2
11
r control at South Kensington (i.e., excluding such ty in connection with their Conimercial Intelligence to the special position of the Indian Sub-Committee). sary in the trustees of the Imperial Institute, who mmissioner of His Majesty's Treasury, the Secretaries or India, and the President of the Board of Trade. Committee of the Imperial Institute, the Board of members and the Secretary of State two. Two of of those of the Secretary of State are at present If some arrangement could be concluded it might be de should withdraw one of their officials and appoint tion of the Secretary of State, and a similar course respect to one of their non-official nominees on the
ware, the Board of Trade have appointed Sir C. ts the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the A. Bateman (who represents the Board of Trade on agers of the Imperial Institute at South Kensington sals of the nature made in this letter be adopted, of this arrangement will be for consideration, but oncerned, the present managing Committee would the proposed and to the existing system of manage-
legal difficulties as regards complete delegation of rol without legislation, but, if Lord Elgin concurs, eferred to a small Committee, representing the two and report.
I have, &c.,
H. LLEWELLYN SMITH.
Inclosure 1 in No. 5.
Treasury Chambers, May 5, 1906.
ords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to ter which they have received from the Colonial Office ind Technical Department of the Imperial Institute, ay be furnished with the observations of the Board
by the Colonial Office.
I
am,
&c.,
G. H. MURRAY.
nclosure 2 in No. 5.
ard of Trade, (Commercial Department),
7, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W.,
May 10, 1906.
ard of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your itting copy of a communication from the Colonial entific and Technical Department of the Imperial ervations of the Board of Trade upon the suggestion
e Board of Trade fully concur in the view expressed importance of maintaining and extending the work Department of the Institute, and that they support .n annual Treasury grant on condition that at least atributed by the Colonial and other Governments
B 2
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PUBLIC
RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O-885
17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO