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laneous" of the 22nd March, transmitting papers showing the nature of the work which is being carried on by the African Entomological Research Committee and requesting me to consider whether co-operation on the part of British Guiana with the Committee is desirable, and, if so, how it could be effected.

2. I think that all Colonial Governments should co-operate as far as it lies in their power to do so with the Entomological Research Committee in their valuable work, and that is the opinion of the Government Bacteriologists.

3. This Government, as you are aware, has recently engaged the services of an. economic biologist, and the Director of Science and Agriculture, whom I have con- sulted in the matter, says that as soon as possible after the biologist's arrival in the Colony, and after he has gained some experience, he will make arrangements for assisting the Committee with reports on investigations of insect pests.

4. It would give me pleasure to be able to say that British Guiana would make an annual contribution to the funds of the Research Committee, but the financial condition of the Colony does not warrant my approaching the Combined Court in the matter at present.

17781

(No. 65.)

131

No. 84.

WINDWARD ISLANDS (ST. VINCENT).

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 30 May, 1911.) [Answered by No. 112.]

Grenada, 15th May, 1911.

J. HAYES SADLER,

Governor.

SUBMITTED with reference to my despatch, Grenada (General), No. 103, of this day's date.*

I have, &c.,

F. M. HODGSON.

17764

No. 83.

WINDWARD ISLANDS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 30 May, 1911.)

[Answered No. 112.]

(No. 103.) SIR,

Grenada, 15th May, 1911. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Windward Islands, Miscellaneous, of the 22nd March last,* on the subject of entomological research.

2. It at once occurred to me to solicit the assistance of the Imperial Commis- sioner of Agriculture and of the officers of his Department in the various islands.

I have discussed the subject with Dr. Watts, who has readily consented to help, and has given me a copy of his lettert to you, suggesting that his Department might usefully act as the centre for the distribution of information and the collection of specimens, in which I readily concur.

3. It is excessively difficult in small islands such as these to get the material for useful collection, and a scheme started on any unscientific basis is doomed to failure.

Our medical men are fully occupied, and I doubt whether they could find the time to be of much use, and there are no persons in these Colonies, outside the Agri- cultural Department, who have any scientific knowledge of the subject.

4. Still it is possible that we may find individuals who will take an interest in this research, and, guided by the Agricultural Department, some useful results should follow.

It will be desirable, as suggested by the Imperial Commissioner for Agriculture, that the entomologist attached to his Department should tour in each island, and assist and guide those willing to help in collecting insects.

There should be no difficulty, too, in finding in each island small sums wherewith to pay one or two native collectors whose training the entomologist considers likely to prove useful, their collections being sent first of all to the local agricultural office, and thence to the headquarters of the Department in Barbados, whence such, speci- mens as are likely to be of interest could be despatched to the Central Research Office in England.

5. The best means of exciting local interest would be to send trained collectors to visit the islands. But I would add that none of the Colonies in this Group are in a position to incur any but a very limited measure of expense in connection with the research scheme.

I have, &c.,

J. HAYES SADLER,

Governor.

(St. Vincent.

No. 73.)

SIR,

Government House, St. Vincent, 9th May, 1911. In reply to the Secretary of State's despatch, Miscellaneous, of 22nd March last, relative to the work which is being carried on by the African Entomological Research Committee, I have the honour to state that in my opinion the best and most effective method of obtaining co-operation in the West Indies would be through the medium of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, which already has a skilled entomologist attached to its staff.

2. Any persons in this or any other Colony who were so interested in the work as to desire to take a practical part in it would in this way have a central head in the West Indies to whom to refer or to transmit any specimens or information obtained. That head would then be in the position to summarise facts, and in turn communicate with the Research Committee."

3. The Imperial Department of Agriculture should have little difficulty in getting into touch with persons interested. This would not, of course, absolve the local Government from co-operation wherever possible, and I may add that this Government will be pleased to do anything it can to assist in this important move-

I have, &c.,

ment.

His Excellency

17084

&C.,

C. GIDEON MURRAY,

Administrator.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir James Hayes Sadler, K.C.M.G., C.B.,

&c.,

&c., Governor of the Windward Islands,

Grenada.

No. 85.

IMPERIAL CO-ORDINATION IN THE PREVENTION OF THE SPREAD OF DISEASE IN AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

(1.) The attention of Governments everywhere is being drawn to the import- ance of dealing with insect pests on administrative lines. Consequently, regulations dealing with the importation of plants and vegetable produce are being issued in every country. British Colonial Governments are among the foremost in passing such regulations, but these regulations are not co-ordinated and vary widely in different parts of the Empire. It is anticipated that this may lead to hindrances to trade in agricultural produce, without necessarily keeping the respective countries free from plant diseases.

• No. 78.

↑ No. 81.

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• No. 83.

↑ No. 78.

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