CO885-(20-21) — Page 253

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

50.

(Director of the National Gallery), Dr. H. F. Heath (Director of Special Inquiries and Reports, Board of Education), Mr. H. J. Mackinder, M.P., Mr. W. H. Mercer (Crown Agent for the Colonies), Dr. R. D. Roberts (Secretary of the Gilchrist Education Trust), Professor Sadler, and Sir John Struthers (Secretary to Scotch Education Department). Inquiries should be addressed to Sir C. P. Lucas, Colonial Office.

36499

No. 86.

SIR C. LUCAS to MR. JAS. BURNS, MR. W. GRIFFITH, CAPTAIN MUIRHEAD COLLINS, and MR. C. WRAY PALLISER.

[Answered by Nos. 87, 89 and 90.]

Downing Street, 16 February, 1911. DEAR [Mr. BURNS], [Captain COLLINS], [Mr. GRIFFITH], [Mr. PALLISER],

Os behalf of the Visual Instruction Committee of this Office I have to transmit to you, to be laid before the High Commissioner [of the Union of South Africa], [for the Commonwealth of Australia], [for Canada], [for New Zealand], a copy of a book of lantern lectures in India which has been issued by the Committee A popular illustrated edition of the book for use without the lantern slides has also been published.

2. I am asked to call attention to the Earl of Meath's preface to the Indian lectures, in which the aim of the Committee is explained. The present volume is the first of a series, which, when completed, will deal in a uniform manner with the whole of the Empire.

3. It is desired to emphasise the fact that the work of the Committee is in no sense whatever antagonistic to, or intended to supplant, the work of the representa- tives of the Dominion Governments in this country in educating the public of the the complement United Kingdom as to the self-governing Dominions. The scheme of what has been, and is being, done, by dealing uniformly with the Empire as a whole.

4. The Committee now have in their possession, as the result of their artist's work, a collection of paintings and photographs which will afford material for illustrating respectively three further sets of lectures on British North America, Australasia, and the chain of Imperial stations from Gibraltar to the Far East. Arrangements have been made for the preparation of these lectures; and the Com- mittee anticipate that they will be completed and published, at intervals, by the early part of next year. [Not to Mr. Burns.-They will probably desire to consult the High Commissioner, before publication, with regard to the lectures on [Australia], [Canada], [New Zealand), and will greatly appreciate his help and guidance. The Committee are already much indebted to the [Commonwealth] [Dominion] Government for the assistance and facilities which were afforded to their artist during his stay in [Australia], [Canada], [New Zealand],] [To Captain Collins only and have in this connexion to acknowledge with thanks your letter of the 7th of February.* The Committee will gladly bear in mind your offer of assistance).

5. The plan of sending an artist to visit the different parts of the Empire- the only method by which, in the opinion of the Committee, it is possible to secure the desired uniformity of treatment has proved somewhat expensive, and the original fund, which was raised entirely by private subscription, under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, then Princess of Wales, will be exhausted on the comple- tion of the work in hand.

6. Africa and the West Indies remain to be dealt with. The Rhodes Trustees have generously granted £500 towards the cost of preparing lectures on South Africa, but the Committee fear that, until further funds are raised, they will not be able to complete their work. They are therefore anxious, with a view to increas- ing their receipts, as well as on general grounds, that the lectures shall be as widely used as possible, and although they are being prepared primarily for use in schools in this country it is hoped that the scheme will commend itself to the Governments of the Dominions and of the Colonies, and that lectures on one part of the Empire will be used in other parts.

• No, NO.

51

7. [To Mr: Burns and Mr. Griffith only: It will be observed, on referring to page VI of the preface to the lectures on India, that editions of the Committee's lectures on the United Kingdom, for use in [South Africa] [Canada] have been in contemplation. Arrangements were made in correspondence ending with [To Mr. Burns only: the Secretary of State's Miscellaneous despatch to the High Commis- sioner, dated the 31st of May, 1907,* for the preparation of the special editions, and it was understood that the initial cost of about £100 would be borne by the Govern- ment of the Transvaal, in whom the ownership in South Africa would be vested. The Governments of Cape Colony, Natal, the Transvaal, the Orange River Colony, and Basutoland were each prepared to defray a proportion of the cost, and to purchase one set of slides, each set costing, roughly, £43 10s.] [To Mr. Griffith only: my letter of the 4th of February, 1907.† for the preparation of the special edition, and it was understood that the initial cost of about £100 would be borne by the Department of the Interior of Canada, which desired to purchase 10 sets of slides at a cost of about £43 10s. per set.],

8. [To Mr. Burns and Mr. Griffith only: Unfortunately there have been diffi- culties in the way of carrying out the adaptation of the lectures, and although the Committee are now in a position to undertake the work, they do not feel justified in proceeding, at this distance of time, until they learn the wishes of the Govern- ment of [the Union of South Africa], [Canada], and they think it desirable that the adaptation should be taken in hand by someone in or closely connected with [South Africa] [Canada].

Believe me, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

36499, 10

No. 87.

SECRETARY TO THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR SOUTH AFRICA to SIR C. LUCAS. (Received 23 February, 1911.)

72, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., DEAR SIR CHARLES Lucas,

22nd February, 1911. MR. Burns has handed over to me your letter of the 16th instant, on the subject of Visual Instruction and Lantern Lectures, as, owing to his approaching retirement, he is not taking up any new matters of official business.

The two points raised in your note appear to be whether the Union Government is prepared to confirin the Agreements made in 1905 and 1906 by the Governments of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River Colony, in regard to the initial cost of the preparation of lectures for use in South Africa, and the purchase of slides, and whether the adaptation of the lectures can be carried out by the Union Government's representatives.

The High Commissioner is of opinion that both these questions should be deferred until the South African delegates to the Education Conference reach London, when both he and you would have an opportunity of discussing the matter with them and with the Minister for Education, who is attending the Imperial Conference.

27529/07

No. 88.

Yours faithfully,

T. S. NIGHTINGALE.

MR. A. HUGH FISHER to VISUAL INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE. (Received 25 February, 1911.)

[Answered by No. 103.]

81, Strand-on-the-Green,

Chiswick, W., February 25th, 1911.

DEAR MR. NOALL,

I FIND that the man who wanted to purchase the portrait sketch of George Fatafehi, the father of the King of Tonga, is-

Thomas Victor Roberts,

Auditor-General,

Nukualofa, Tonga.

No. 147 in Miscellaneous No. 188.

† No. 126 in Miscellaneous No. 188.

‡ No. 86.

22 161

€ 1