CO885-(21-23) — Page 43

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

[Your telegram of the 22nd May*]

66

[Your despatch, No. 26, of the 12th of July,t]

[Sir W. H. Horwood's despatch, No. 37, of the 16th of May,‡]

and previous correspondence, I have the honour to state, for the information of your Ministers, that a Conference was held at the Colonial Office on the 12th of August to discuss the proposed scheme for Imperial co-operation in preventing the spread, and furthering the investigation, of noxious insect pests.

2. It will be seen from the Report of the proceedings of the Conference, § six copies of which are enclosed, that representatives of most of the over-sea Dominions were able to attend, although, unfortunately, it was not possible to arrange for every Government to be represented.

3. As you are aware, the Entomological Research Committee had previously put forward for consideration a scheme of which the main points were:-

(1) That the Committee should undertake a general survey of the more

important plant pests occurring within the British Empire;

(2) That they should organise a system for securing the prompt identification of any noxious insects which might be submitted for that purpose by officials of any of the Governments concerned; and

(3) That they should publish a journal monthly containing concise summaries of all the current literature which has a practical bearing on the in- vestigation and control of noxious insects."

This scheme was accepted by most of the Governments which were invited to co-operate, including that of [Western Australia] [South Australia] [New South Wales] [Victoria] [Queensland] [Tasmania] [Newfoundland), but your Ministers will see from the Report of the proceedings of the Conference that there was entire unanimity among all those present that a more extended scheme should be adopted. I need not elaborate the arguments in favour of this course, as they will be found in the Report, but I may say that I fully concur with the views expressed by Dr. Gordon Hewitt and others at the Conference as to the desirability of extending the scope of the work which the proposed Bureau would undertake.

4. As regards finance, an estimate of the cost of the extended scheme is annexed to the Report. It is calculated that an annual expenditure of approximately £2,600 will be required. The original proposals involved a total expenditure of £1,200 per annum only, and towards this it was suggested that [To all except Newfoundland: the six States of the Australian Commonwealth might contribute a sum of £300, which it has since been decided should be allocated between them on a population basis.] [To Newfoundland only: Newfoundland might contribute £50.]

If the new scheme proves generally acceptable, I would suggest that the contri- butions from the self-governing Dominions and India should be allotted as follows:-

Canada India

South Africa.

Six Australian States

Australian Commonwealth

New Zealand

Newfoundland

£

500

500

350

300

200

200

50

A sum of £500 will still have to be found to bring the total up to the required figure, and it is my intention, if the extended scheme meets with the approval of the Governments concerned, to approach the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury with a view to obtaining from them an annual grant of that amount as a contribution from the Imperial Government. You will observe that if the allotment now suggested is accepted, the contribution to be paid by your Government will remain unaltered. In the first instance, I would propose that the various Govern ments guarantee their contributions for a period of three years, at the end of which time the position could be reviewed.

5. An important point which arose during the discussion at the Conference was that of the representation of the contributory Governments on the managing body of the Bureau. I entirely agree that some system of representation should be adopted. The suggestions made at the Conference for effecting this appear to me

‡ No. 35.

§ No. 56.

• No. 30.

† 26053 not printed (it confirmed No. 45).

67

to be satisfactory, but your Ministers will doubtless give the matter their careful consideration. In this connexion I enclose a list of the members of the Committee as now constituted.*

6. Finally, I have to express the hope that this scheme, from which the most valuable and far-reaching results may be expected, will meet with the approval and support of your Ministers. It is not yet possible to determine how soon it could be brought into force, but, so far as can be seen, there is no reason why the Bureau should not be inaugurated at the beginning of next year. I may add that I should be glad to receive a reply to this despatch by telegraph.

27163

SIR,

No. 71.

I have, &c.,

L. HARCOURT.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE ACTING GOVERNORS.

(Ceylon. No. 427.)

(Malay States. No. 401.)

(Straits Settlements. No. 272.)

(Hong Kong. No. 301.)

(Mauritius. No. 195.)

(Seychelles. No. 87.)

(Fiji. No. 269.)

Downing Street, 3rd October, 1912.

I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have had under my consideration a scheme put forward by the Entomological Research Committee for the formation of an Imperial Bureau of Entomology in London.

2. This Committee, which, as will be seen from the enclosed list,* comprises some of the best authorities on entomology in this country, was originally formed by my predecessor for the purpose of furthering the investigation of entomology in the British Colonies and Protectorates of tropical Africa. The Committee has now been carrying on its work for more than three years, and its efforts have met with marked success.

3. It is not necessary for me to enter into detail at this stage as to the results attained, as a report will shortly be issued by the Committee covering the period for which it has been in existence, and copies of this report will be sent to you in due course. It will suffice to say that the great measure of success achieved in connec- tion with the tropical African Colonies and Protectorates has encouraged the Com- mittee to extend the scope of its work to other parts of the Empire. Arrangements, for instance, have been made whereby the Committee will co-operate with the West Indian Governments, furnishing them with expert advice and assistance in entomo- logical matters in return for a contribution sufficient to cover the additional expen- diture thereby involved. But the time has come when, in my opinion, their work should be placed on a much broader basis altogether, and it is now proposed to organise a central Bureau of Entomology for the British Colonies and Dependencies generally.

4. As you are no doubt aware, a Bureau of Entomology has been for some years established by the Government of the United States of America at Washington. and the Bureau which is now contemplated would be somewhat analogous to that institution. The main features of the Bureau would be:-

(1) The organisation of a system for the prompt identification of all injurious insects sent in by officers attached to Departments of Agriculture or Public Health in any of the British Colonies or Dependencies.

(2) The publication of a monthly periodical which would give a brief summary of all the current literature, both British and foreign, dealing with noxious insects, whether agricultural pests or disease carriers.

(3) The compilation of a card-index to the literature, past and present, so that any official or student requiring information with regard to any particular pest can be promptly supplied with all the knowledge that is available on the subject.

There are also various other lines along which the Bureau could render valuable assistance to persons engaged in the study of noxious insects.

• Enclosure in No. 72.

30949

† Seo [Cd. 6429] November, 1912.

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