PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TPETC.O.8
885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
50
It was the opinion of the Sub-Committee that a beginning should be made at the earliest possible moment, especially with the publication to which I have just referred. This, however, immediately raises the question of finance. The financial position may be summarised as follows:-
The contributions promised by the Union of South Africa, the Australian States, New Zealand, and Newfoundland amount to £600 per annum. Canada was asked to contribute £300 per annum, and a similar sum was asked for from India. If, therefore, neither Canada nor India should eventually participate as contributories to the scheme, the total amount available to meet expenses would be only £600, and the Sub-Committee is clear that it would not in that case be possible to carry on the work.
It would, therefore, in the opinion of the Sub-Committee be unwise to make a beginning even on a small scale until at least a sum of £1,000 per annum has been guaranteed, lest in the absence of sufficient funds it should be found impracticable to continue the work begun.
I had hoped to be able to report that as the result of further correspondence with the Canadian Government, they would definitely have expressed their willingness to co-operate and contribute; and in that case, it would have been possible to press the Indian Government to accept the scheme by representing that they alone had refused to participate. In spite, however, of urgent representations from the Secretary of State, the Canadian Government have adhered to their decision to await the report of Dr. Gordon Hewitt, the Dominion Entomologist, who is now on his way to this country,
It would seem, therefore, that it is necessary to await the results of the discussion which it is proposed to hold after the International Congress at Oxford.
In this connection I may remind the Committee that in March the Secretary of State communicated with the self-governing Dominions and the Indian Government at the request of the Committee, suggesting that the opportunity afforded by the International Congress at Oxford should be taken to arrange for a conference between the Committee and entomological experts from the Governments concerned, for the purpose of working out in detail the scheme to be adopted. The result of that com- munication has been that Dr. Gordon Hewitt and Dr. Tidswell will attend on behalf of the Dominion of Canada and the Australian Commonwealth respectively; Mr. L. D. Wakeley, of the India Office, will represent that Department, but it is to be understood that the Indian Government are not thereby committed to the scheme; Western Australia will be represented by its Agent-General; and the High Commis- sioner for New Zealand has been instructed to arrange for someone to represent that Government. The other Governments will not send representatives. It is perhaps a matter for consideration, seeing how few of the Governments will he represented, whether it is desirable to hold the conference as originally suggested. An alter- native course would be for the Scientific Secretary to meet informally the representa- tives who would otherwise attend the Conference and arrange with them personally the details of the scheme. It is suggested, therefore, that the Committee should to-day decide-
(1) Whether the Conference should be held;
(2) If so, who should be requested to represent the Committee;
(3) The time; and
(4) The place.
It is presumed that the Committee's representatives would be given full power to act for the Committee, but it would be useful if a decision of the Committee could
be obtained on two questions, so that their representatives at the Conference may
be able to refer, if necessary, to these subjects, viz. :—
(1) Whether the Imperial Government should he requested to contribute'
towards the scheme; and
(2) Whether an arrangement should be made by which the Governments which co-operate should be represented either on the Committee or on a special Sub-Committee, in order that they might have some voice in the expenditure of the money which they contribute.
25305
51
No. 53. JAMAICA.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6.35 p.m., 10th August, 1912.) TELEGRAM.
Your despatch 12th July.* Vote of £50 will be included in Estimates for next year.-OLIVIER.
25309
(No. 35.)
No. 54.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 12 August, 1912.) [Copy to Crown Agents, 22 August, 1912.]
Government House, Perth, Western Australia,
15th July, 1912.
SIR,
WITH reference to your despatch, No. 45, of 26th April, 1912,† relative to the proposed scheme for a more extended investigation of noxious insects in the British Empire, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a minute which I have received from my Ministers on the subject.
Enclosure in No. 54.
I have, &c.,
G. STRICKLAND,
Governor.
From the HONOURABLE THE PREMIER to HIS EXCELLENCY The Governor. (No. 2789/12.)
With reference to Your Excellency's communication of the 27th May (covering despatch from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 26th April), on the subject of the investigations of the Research Committee respect- ing insect pests, I beg to inform you that the payment of the first contribution from this Government has been duly arranged through the Agent-General, but, in response to a request subsequently received from the Premier of New South Wales (who is entrusted with the enforcement of resolutions adopted by the Premiers' Conferences), future contributions will be made through the New South Wales Government.
J. SCADDAN,
6th July, 1912.
26607
No. 55.
Premier.
MINUTES OF THE SECOND MEETING OF THE PUBLICATION SUB- COMMITTEE OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE ON MONDAY, 12TH OF AUGUST, 1912.
PRESENT:
Dr. SHIPLEY (Chairman).
Dr. BAGSHAWE.
Professor NUTTALL.
Mr. READ.
Mr SCOTT.
Mr. MARSHALL (Scientific Secretary).
Mr. PARKINSON (Secretary).
The Sub-Committee met to consider a question raised by Mr. Marshall at the 12th General Meeting of the Committee, namely, whether the Committee should publish in their bulletin original articles in German, French and Italian.
• No. 47.
30949
↑ No. 24.
‡ No. 52.
G 2