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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 8

885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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is given precedence over everything else. For it is certain that the success of the organisation which we have initiated is very largely dependent upon the maintenance of a system of prompt identification, as well as a generous recognition of the surpris- ingly large amount of purely voluntary work which is being done for us.

Greater familiarity with the blood-sucking insects of Africa now renders it possible for us to handle large collections of these insects with far greater celerity than was possible a couple of years ago. But the increasing demand for the identifi- cation of insects belonging to groups that are less well known is causing some difficulty, and until it becomes possible to provide me with an entomological assistant this side of our work must inevitably fall into arrear.

The general financial position of the Committee may be regarded as satisfactory. At the end of last quarter the cash in hand amounted to over £3,100, of which £3,000 was then out at interest, and the total return from this source during the current After making full allowance for our normal year is likely to be not less than £70. expenditure during the rest of the financial year, as well as providing for a sum of £270 to be spent in connection with the Entomologist sent to the Federated Malay States, it is estimated that we shall still have an unexpended balance of over £1,200.

The position of the Carnegie Fund remains substantially the same as shown in the statement appended to my last report, except for the fact that the Trinidad Government are not likely to avail themselves of the scholarship offered to them until January of next year, so that there is likely to be an unexpended balance for 1912 of a little over £200. In the case of British Guiana, Mr. G. E. Bodkin, the Government Entomologist, has been selected for the scholarship offered by the Com- mittee, and he has probably left already for the United States.

Messrs. Dulau and Company's statement with regard to sales of our Bulletin has not arrived in time for inclusion in this report, but it is understood that the progress of the publication is considered to be satisfactory. In connection with the Bulletin, Dr. Johann Dewitz, Director of the Governnient Station for Economic Entomology at Metz, in Germany, has strongly urged that we should publish original articles in German, French, and Italian. He contends that this would be likely to extend our sales considerably on the Continent; and further, he anticipates that if this policy were adopted our journal would be likely to become the principal medium in Europe for the publication of the more important papers dealing with economic entomology. While there are certain obvious difficulties in the matter, the suggestion seems at least worthy of consideration, and is, therefore, submitted for the opinion of the Committee.

Mr. Simpson has already made two journeys into the interior of Sierra Leone, and reports favourably on the results obtained. He proposes to remain in that Colony until October, when he will proceed to the Gold Coast, where he will spend the remainder of his time. The whole of Mr. Neave's outfit has been purchased and shipped, and he will himself leave England for Nyasaland on the 15th September. He is at present engaged in preparing for publication an account of the observations he made upon the blood-sucking flies of East Africa. Practically the whole of his large collection has now been named, with the exception of a certain number of new species, which are in the hands of Mr. Austen for description.

ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE.

Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the Quarter ending 30th June, 1912.

Salaries

Carnegie scholarships

Camp equipment (J. J. Simpson)

Travelling expenses

General expenses

Publications

Government grants

Dominions subvention (Western Australia) Interest

Payments. £371 7 6

150 7 3

30 0 0

Receipts.

4 9 3

17 2 71

110 19

6

£50 100

1,050 U 0

19 0 0

15 5 5

£684 61 £1,134 15 5

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ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE.

General Financial Statement as at 30th June, 1912.

Cash in hand

Scientific Secretary

London County and Westminster Bank, on deposit at call... Crown Agents

£3,000 0

0

100 0 5

10 17 4

1,000

0

0

130 0

0

Cash receivable :—

Balance of Government grants

Bulletin (estimated)

Estimated liabilities for the remainder of the financial year :—

Salaries

Bulletin

Unexpended balance of Carnegie Fund Travelling expenses

Camp and collecting outfits (renewals) Specialists' fees

General expenses

D30000

...£1,127 10 0

380 0 0

898 13 4 100

0

95

0

60 0 0 20 0

19 0

0

Cash received from Government of Western

Australia

Balance of amount guaranteed for an Entomo- logist in the Federated Malay States - Estimated balance in reserve

Annexure II.

270 5 0 1,276 9 5

£4,246 17 9 £4,246 17 94

REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE.

At the last general meeting of the Committee, the Finance Sub-Committee was requested to consider what steps could usefully be taken in connection with the proposed scheme for the extended investigation of insect pests in co-operation with the Governments of the self-governing Dominions of the Empire.

The Sub-Committee met to consider the matter accordingly, but I should explain that in the following report, which has been drawn up with the assistance of the Colonial Office, I have endeavoured to sum up the whole question in a convenient form, and for this purpose I have embodied the results of action taken by the Colonial Office apart from that contemplated by the Sub-Committee.

The present position is that while the Union of South Africa, all the States of the Australian Commonwealth, New Zealand, and Newfoundland have expressed their willingness to co-operate in the scheme, the Canadian Government and the Government of India have reserved their decision until further information is avail- able as the result of the discussion which it is proposed to hold next month with representatives of the Governments interested in the scheme. It is understood, however, from unofficial sources, that the Canadian Government is favourably dis- posed towards the proposal, provided that the scope of the work undertaken by the Committee is sufficiently extended. But as regards the Government of India, it is not known what attitude they are likely finally to adopt, although it is clear from their despatch on the subject that they are under a misapprehension as to certain important features in the scheme. It may be useful if at this stage I recapitulate the main points of the scheme as provisionally approved :-

(1) The Committee would undertake a general survey of the more important

plant pests occurring within the British Empire.

(2) The Committee would organise a system for securing the prompt identifi

cation of any noxious insects which might be submitted for that purpose by officials of any of the Governments concerned; and

(3) The Committee would publish a journal monthly containing concise sum- maries of all the current literature which has a practical bearing on the investigation or control of injurious insects.

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