CO885-(19-20) — Page 176

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

132

Mr. Anstruther pointed out that steps should be taken to consult the Civil Service Commissioners with regard to the holding of periodical examinations; he observed that the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries would be holding an exami- nation for candidates in February, 1908, and he suggested that probable candidates for the Colonial Veterinary Service should attend that examination. The Committee agreed to Mr. Anstruther's proposals.

A proposal of the Governor of Sierra Leone that Captain Harvey, Royal Army Medical Corps, should be employed by the Colonial Government on veterinary research work was considered; "but the Committee considered that his qualifications and training were not of such a character as to render his employment desirable. The Committee also considered the recommendation of the Governor of the Gambia, that a veterinary officer should be employed in the Protectorate of the Gambia. They decided to recommend that a veterinary officer should be appointed, but that as there was not sufficient work to occupy his whole time, the appointment should be made to Sierra Leone and the Gambia jointly; the officer to be stationed in Sierra Leone and to visit the Gambia for a period of two or three months each year.

2. Ceylon.

A report on veterinary matters in the Colony was discussed, 'but appeared to be of interest only to Ceylon.

3. Federated Malay States.

A report on the Institute of Medical Research was considered; the Committee was of opinion that a special officer should be appointed to superintend this work. which is at present performed by Dr. Frazer.

4. The Gambia.

The Committee approved the form of return§ of statistics of animal mortality transmitted by the Governor; but decided to recommend that it should be suggested to him that failure to report diseases such as anthrax should be made a punishable offence.

5. Animal Transport in West Africa.

Captain G. Condon's report was considered. The Committee agreed with his conclusions, and regarded the report as very practical. They decided to recommend that copies should be sent to the Governments of East Africa, Uganda, and West Africa, and to suggest that natives of each Colony should be trained for transport work in preference to the importation of natives of India.

6. Northern Nigeria.

Mr. J. Brand's report on his treatment of trypanosomiasis in animals was considered. The Committee regarded his conclusions as being premature; and decided to recommend that the High Commissioner should be informed that the matter was a difficult and complicated problem which was engaging the attention of leading scientists in Europe.

7. Sierra Leone.

A despatch** on the subject of improving the native breed of cattle was read. The Committee regarded the proposal to kill all young bulls as unnecessary, and recommended that castration should be employed instead, and that enquiries as to the native method of castration should be made.

8. The Committee then considered the question of the information which it is They desirable to obtain from officers employed in veterinary research work. recommended that specific terms of reference should be drawn up, and that officers, while not confined solely to such terms, should be required to supply full reports on the questions raised in the terms of reference.

The Committee then adjourned.

• No. 143.

† Not printed.

↑ No.

§ See No. 167.

| No. 170.

Enclosure in No. 186.

** No. 182.

36276

SIR,

133

No. 190.

SOUTH AFRICA.

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

[Answered by No. 198.]

Downing Street, 23 October, 1907. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 11th of February last, I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir Edward Grey, the accompanying copies of despatchest from the High Commissioner for South Africa respecting the adherence of the Governments of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, and the Transvaal to the London Convention of the 19th of May, 1900, for the preservation of wild animals, birds, and fish in Africa.

2. It will be seen that the Colonial Governments are generally in sympathy with the objects of the Convention, but that the Natal Government has suggested, and the Transvaal Government has agreed with the suggestion, that before express- ing adherence to the Convention, the question of the imposition of export duties on certain articles specified in Section 10 of Article 2 of the Convention should be discussed at a conference of the South African Governments.

3. Lord Elgin presumes, in the circumstances, that the Portuguese Govern- ment should be asked to allow the matter to rest until it has been discussed at a conference.

I am, &c.,

38308

No. 191.

UGANDA.

H. W. JUST.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received October 31, 1907.)

SIR,

[Copy to Governor, November 6, 1907. No. 300. L.F.]

Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 4, Whitehall Place,

London, S.W., October 30, 1907.

I AM directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to advert to Mr. Antrobus's letter of the 9th instant (No. 35328/1907), enclosing a copy of a letter, dated the 4th instant, from the Commissioner of 'ganda as to the proposed importation into that Protectorate of certain Angora goats and Mysore bulls, and I am to state, for the information of the Earl of Elgin, that Mr. S. Stockman, the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Board, has been in communication with Mr. H. Sessions, of Wootton Manor, Henley-on-Thames, with a view to obtain suitable goats. Mr. Sessions informed Mr. Stockman on the 17th instant that he was in correspondence with certain breeders and shipping companies as to the matter, but that it was probable that he would be unable to obtain details for a month or so, from that date. The Board will communicate further with you as soon as they are in a position to do so.

With reference to the second and third paragraphs of Mr. Hesketh Bell's letter, I am to say that Mr. Stockman is not in a position to advise as to the benefit of the proposed cross of Mysore bulls with Ankole cows, but he would suggest, as a guiding consideration, that for breeding of animals for trek purposes such animals are often regarded as more valuable when they are without the hump or long horns. It is further suggested that the bulls should be imported from a district in which red-water is prevalent, so as to ensure that the animals can resist that disease, which is indigenous to Africa.

Mr. Stockman is also of opinion that steps should be taken to avoid the importation into the Protectorate of animals infected with trypanosomiasis, and, with this object in view, he suggests that the blood of the bulls should be tested

Nos. 132, 175, and 187.

‡ No. 185.

• L.F. transmitting copy of No. 83.

1.