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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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7. In the present circumstances the problems that centre round Glossina morsitans, and the allied species pallidipes and longipalpis, seem to be of more pressing importance than those relating to the palpalis group, as the former insects are locking up such wide stretches of country that would otherwise be available for settlement. It might, therefore, be well, in the first instance, to concentrate attention in this direction only.
8. As a first step, it would be desirable to secure precise information as to the objects and scope of the inquiry now being conducted by the Union Govern- ment in South Africa, so that any further projects may be brought into line with it. Probably the most satisfactory course would be to let Mr. Fiske go down to discuss matters with Mr. Montgomery in Zululand and see what they are actually doing. On his return journey he could see Mr. R. W. Jack in Southern Rhodesia, Dr. May in Northern Rhodesia, and, if necessary, visit Nyasaland. If Dr. Lamborn could be spared to accompany him, so much the better. They should then be in a position to map out a preliminary plan for the consideration of such authorities as may be concerned.
9. With the matter of finance I am not competent to deal, but I feel very dubious as to the suggestion that financial aid should be sought from foreign Governments. When matters are in a more forward state it would certainly be well to ascertain from the French and Belgian Governments whether they propose to make any special investigations of this kind, and, if so, they might be asked if they would be willing to co-ordinate their work with ours, so as to avoid waste of time and labour.
10. The copy of Dr. May's report* to the British South Africa Company is returned herewith.
I have, &c.,
67621
No. 96.
GUY A. K. MARSHALL,
Director.
MINUTES OF THE THIRTY-FIRST GENERAL MEETING OF THE MANAGING COMMITTEE OF THE IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY, held at the Colonial Office on 20th November, 1919.
Present:
VISCOUNT HARCOURT (in the chair),
MAJOR AUSTEN.
DR. BAGSHAWE,
MR FRYER.
DR. HARMER.
PROFESSOR LEFROY.
PROFESSOR POULTON.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, SIR D. PRAIN.
DR. SCOTT.
SIR S. STOCKMAN.
MR. THEOBALD.
DR. MARSHALL, Director of the Bureau.
DR. NEAVE, Assistant Director.
MR. PARKINSON, Secretary.
1. THE minutes of the Thirtieth General Meeting† were approved. The Secretary reported that information had been received that Mr. E. Lucas, Agent-General for South Australia, had been selected by the Agents-General for the Australian States to act as their representative on the Committee in place of the late Sir John McCall.
On the suggestion of Dr. Harmer, it was agreed that a letter of condolence should be sent by the Director to the widow of Mr. Andrew Carnegie, who had so materially assisted the Bureau by his contributions for sending entomologists to America to study the subject in that country.
* Enclosure in No. 93.
+ No. 92.
985
2. The half-yearly report of the Director was received. (Copy annexed.) Dr. Marshall called attention to the depreciation in the capital of the Bureau owing to the conversion of £2,500 National War Bonds into the new Four per cent. Funding Loan, which, since his report was written, had depreciated further.
The question whether a portion of the sum now on deposit at the bank should be invested in Five per cent. War Loan was referred to the Finance Sub-Committee for consideration and report.
Dr. Marshall stated that the sales of the Review of Applied Entomology were showing a very satisfactory increase, and that many copies of back numbers were being applied for.
3. The question of substituting two assistants for identification work at the Bureau in place of Captain Waterston, who is engaged on special identification work, was considered. The Committee agreed to this proposal, provided that Captain Waterston received the appointment in the British Museum (Natural History), for which it is understood he is an applicant.
Lord Harcourt read a letter from the late Mr. Carnegie's secretary, expressing full concurrence in the use of part of the " Carnegie Fund," as proposed by the Committee for purposes connected with the Conference.
4. Correspondence between the British South Africa Company, the Bureau, and the Colonial Office on the subject of extended tsetse fly investigation in Africa was received.
Dr. Marshall pointed out that lack of funds at the moment prevented any considerable extension of the work; and that in his opinion it would be desirable to have a large central fund for investigations of this kind, supplemented by grants from the Colonial or Protectorate Governments in which work was actually being undertaken, and he hoped that the Colonial and Protectorate Governments might be able to lend men with the requisite training to carry on the work. He laid stress on the fact that closer settlement would probably be one of the most important factors in dealing with the tsetse fly problem, but that work should be taken up all possible directions, including entomological research work.
in
Major Austen inquired whether the report of the Interdepartmental Com- mittee on Sleeping Sickness, of which the Earl of Desart was Chairman, was now to be considered a dead letter. That Committee had reported just before the War, but owing to the outbreak of war comparatively little action had been taken on its recommendations. Lord Harcourt explained that he himself, as Secretary of State at the time, had been unable, after full consideration, to approve of the game destruction experiment, which had been one of the matters reported on by the Com- mittee, owing to the practical difficulties which seemed likely to vitiate the experi- ment, the extreme uncertainty as to any valuable and reliable results, and the heavy expenditure which would have been involved. The other recommendations of the Committee were mentioned by the Secretary, who pointed out that the Committee had strongly urged extended entomological research, and that any extended investigation such as that contemplated in the correspondence received from the British South Africa Company would certainly come within the scope of that recommendation.
It was decided to appoint a Sub-Committee to go into the question generally, and to draw up proposals. The following were selected to serve on the Sub- Committee:-
5.
Major Austen.
Dr. Bagshawe.
Dr. Harmer.
Professor Newstead.
Sir H. Read.
Sir S. Stockman.
The Committee considered the provisional arrangements made for the Entomological Conference. The following proposals were accepted:-
:==
(1) That the date fixed for the Conference, namely, the 19th of May. 1920. should be altered to the 1st of June. 1920, and that the Governments concerned should be so notified.
(2) That a communication should be sent to the Government of New South Wales, if the Secretary of State approved, requesting that Mr. Froggatt, Govern- ment Entomologist for New South Wales, should attend the Conference as the
+ [Cd. 7849.].
*Nos. 99. 94, and 95.
296