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24163

SIR,

No. 8.

BOARD OF TRADE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received July 5, 1906.)

[Answered by No. 9.]

Board of Trade (Commercial Department),

7, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W.,

July 4, 1906. I AM directed by the Board of Trade to refer to previous correspondence on the subject of the Imperial Institute, and especially to the letters from this Depart- ment of 3rd April and 29th May, enclosing copy of the letter giving notice to Professor Dunstan, and inviting the Colonial Office to take a greater share in the management of the Institute, and also to the Treasury letter to the Colonial Office, † of which this Department has received copy.

*

The Board desire me to state that it is necessary for them to come forthwith to a decision as to the carrying on of the Imperial Institute from October 1st next, in view of the early date on which Parliament will adjourn for the holidays, and also on account of a pledge given to the Advisory Committee of the Imperial Institute to call them together shortly to consider the situation.

The Board are not aware how far the Colonial Office will think it well to press the Treasury for an increase in the promised grant of £700 per annum, but they are fully prepared to support any action that the Colonial Office should see fit to take in this direction. But apart from the question of the increased grant, the Board are anxious to know whether they may count on a revenue from October 1st next of at least £2,000 per annum, that is to say, £1,300 from the Colonies to supple- ment the £700 promised conditionally by the Treasury, leaving open the question of how far this grant can be ultimately increased.

Until the Board are informed on this point they are not in a position to re- engage the Director-who has received notice-or to reassure the other members of the staff that their position is secure, and thus prevent them making arrangements for employment elsewhere. One case of a valuable scientific expert accepting other work in consequence of the uncertainty of his future has already been brought to their notice, and other cases will no doubt arise shortly.

Should the Colonial Office desire to avail themselves of the suggestion made in the Board's letter of the 29th May, it seems desirable that the proposed Committee to consider details should get to work forthwith, and, in this event, the Board would naturally wish to act in consultation with the Colonial Office in regard to the question of arrangements in connection with the staff.

The Board would, consequently, be glad if the Colonial Office could give them an answer to this letter and to their letter of the 29th May‡ at the earliest possible date, and, if possible, during the course of the present week.

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SIR,

COLONIAL OFFICE to BOARD OF TRADE.

Downing Street, July 6, 1906.

I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instants asking whether the Board can count upon a revenue of £2,000 per annum from the 1st of October next to replace the sum of equal amount which up to the end of 1905 was contributed by the Board of Management of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.

2. The £2,000 would, it is contemplated, be contributed in the proportions of £700 by the Lords of the Treasury, as provisionally promised by their Lordships in their letter of the 25th of June,t a copy of which is enclosed, and £1,300 by the

§ No. 8.

Nos. 4 and 5.

† No. 7.

‡ No. 5.

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