48
4. As regards expense I asked the Inspector of Schools to favour me with an estimate of the probable cost of a lantern, and he states that he has had ex¬ perience in Malta with a lantern which was always found to give excellent pictures and which he thinks would best suit our purposes, namely, No. 5087, page 262, of I find that slides cost from 18. Newton and Company's catalogue, price £16 16s.
to 5s. each, and this expense could be met by a sum of a few pounds being placed on the estimates each year. I am not aware of the cost of the text books, but consider that the apparatus and a moderate supply of accessories could be procured at an initial outlay of, say, £30, and that an annual sum of £10 or £15 thereafter would be sufficient to start the system and maintain it in operation.
5. This, of course, does not include any remuneration to medical officers for lecturing or for the maintenance of country schoolmasters while undergoing a course of instruction at headquarters. In 1903 the teachers went through a course of agricultural instruction lasting two weeks at the school at "Union," and the cost of their board averaged something less than £1 per head. I estimate that this. part of the expenditure should not exceed £25 or £30, and I should hope that, at any rate for the present, we should not have to pay for the lectures.
6. The Inspector of Schools considers that these expenses can be met out of the vote for primary education, and I have instructed him to prepare a requisition for the supply of the lantern and slides and the text books for transmission to the Crown Agents.
7. In my opinion there should be instruction of the teachers every year in hygiene and agriculture, and hygiene should be made a compulsory subject in all the schools assisted by Government, while agriculture should be encouraged by being placed on the curriculum in common with other grant-earning subjects. To accomplish this the medical officers must be relied on to assist in imparting the small amount of technical instruction necessary to the thorough comprehension of the simple rules of health and prevention of avoidable diseases, and agriculture can be taught at the Agricultural School while the Imperial Government continues. to contribute to its maintenance, but at present it is not possible to decide whether the Colony will be able to continue the institution when Imperial assistance is with- drawn. Both subjects are, however, of vital importance to the future welfare of Tropical Colonies, and if the time should arrive when the inhabitants realize the importance of preventive measures against disease, and make the best use of their fertile lands, the value of these possessions to the Crown will be greatly increased.
I have, &c.,
P. C. CORK,
Administrator.
49
CORRESPONDENCE. (1.)
Dr. MACPHAIL to ADMINISTRATOR.
I recommend that about 30 copies of the following books be imported:-
Lectures on Elementary Hygiene. Dr. Strachan.
Lectures on Health. Dr. Best.
Short Treatise on Malaria.-Dr. Dickson.
It will be necessary for the teachers to be first instructed in Hygiene, and, for this purpose, it would, I think, be advisable for them to attend, say, once a week, at the residence of the medical officer in whose district their schools are situated (or other convenient place) to receive such instruction. After a course of instruction, an examination could be held, and those found competent could be granted a certificate; those failing-to pass such examination to undergo a further course of instruction.
DIGBY M. MACPHAIL,
December 9, 1905.
(2.)
District Medical Officer,
MINUTE by ADMINISTRATOR.
I. Castries District.
I am of opinion that a lantern and slides should be procured to illustrate lectures and make them interesting and instructive. It could be used for instruc- tion in agriculture and other subjects as well as hygiene.
2. Dr. Macphail's recommendation might then be carried out in a more com- plete and instructive manner. The text books should, of course, be procured.
3. For consideration in Executive Council. Circulate.
December 10, 1905.
(3.)
MINUTE of Executive COUNCIL. December 28, 1905.
P. C.
The Council advised that a lantern and slides should be procured for the pur- pose of illustrating lectures on the subject, and His Honour concurred and ordered accordingly.
S. O.,
Clerk of Councils.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO. 885
9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
His Excellency
Sir Robert B. Llewelyn, K.C.M.G.,
&c.,
&c., Grenada.
&C..
SCHEDULE OF CORRESPONDENCE ENCLOSED.
Dr. Macphail to Administrator. December 9, 1905. (2.) Minute by Administrator. December 10, 1905.
(3.) Council Minute. December 28, 1905.
(4.) Administrator to Inspector of Schools. January 5, 1906. (5.) Inspector of Schools to Administrator. January 12, 1906. Administrator to Medical Board. January 19, 1906. (7.) Medical Board to Administrator. January 25, 1906. (8.) Minute by Administrator. February 1, 1906. (9.) Administrator to Medical Board. February 1, 1906. (10.) Medical Board to Administrator. February 3, 1906. (11.) Dr. Hughes to Dr. Macphail. January 31, 1906.
(4.)
ADMINISTRATOR to INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.
Please consult with Dr. Macphail and elaborate a scheme for carrying this into effect.
I believe a lantern is in possession of the military for immediate sale.
If 80,
kindly inspect it and report whether it is suitable and the price at which it can be purchased.
January 5, 1906.
(5.)
INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS to ADMINISTRATOR.
P. C.
He tells
I have seen Captain Isaac respecting the above-mentioned lantern. me it is not the property of the War Department, but belongs to the Duke of York's School and is not for sale. He says he could write to England and find out whether they would be willing to sell it, and, if so, for what price.
2. I myself wrote for catalogues to both London and Paris last month.
20993
Q