CO885-(21-23) — Page 469

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

Miscellaneous No. 282.

Confidential.

MEMORANDUM BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE ON THE RELATION OF THE WORK OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE TO THE INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

INTRODUCTION.

The accompanying memorandum on the work accomplished for British industrial enterprise by the operations of the Imperial Institute has been written in order to show how greatly this work has developed and increased in recent years, and that the Imperial Institute has now become a recognised centre for information and investigation with regard to raw materials required by the British manufacturer. The detailed information given in this memorandum will show that, not only in indicating new materials which are of value to the British manufacturer, but also in placing the manufacturer in direct touch with the producer of these materials in the Colonies and India, the Imperial Institute is discharging a most important office for the British manufacturer and British commerce, and one which is not fulfilled by any other organisation in this country. The information given in the memorandum will show the dimensions to which this work has now attained. and organisation are unable to keep pace with the demands made upon them, and The present staff without additional funds, not only will the staff be kept at the present undesirable high pressure, but each year is likely to see an increasing number of arrears of work at its close. In addition to the services rendered to British manufacturing industries, which are principally referred to in the present memorandum, there has been recently a rapidly increasing demand on the part of British firms for the conduct of experimental work of a class which cannot be undertaken by the ordinary pro- fessional analyst, and it has been decided to try provisionally the plan of charging fees for such work.

It would, however, not be possible, even if it were desirable, to ask for payment in respect of the enquiries referred to in the present memorandum. The grant of £1,500, which, since 1906 has been received from the Treasury in respect of such work, is now no longer adequate, and, in face of the facts recorded in the memoran- dum as to the advantages which accrue to British manufacturing industries from the work of the Imperial Institute, a strong case exists for the Treasury contribution being raised so as at any rate to correspond in amount with the contributions made by the Crown Colonies and Protectorates.

With the assistance of a larger grant from the Treasury very necessary and important work can be more efficiently organised than is possible under the present conditions. Several sections of work for which there is a demand remain unprovided for on account of want of funds, whilst subdivision of certain work is now called for. For example, a separate staff is needed for the work of collecting and systematically recording the accurate technical and commercial information which is demanded by British manufacturers and merchants as to the sources of supply, uses, and mode of treatment of every class of raw material. taken by the same men who are engaged in laboratory investigations. At first, when At present this very heavy work is under- enquiries were few, it was possible for the ordinary staff of the Scientific and Techni- cal Department to undertake the collection of the necessary information, but this is no longer possible.

The existing system can only be continued by endangering the efficiency of both branches of work and by maintaining a very undesirable pressure on the principal members of the staff. A bureau of information organised in connection with the Scientific and Technical Department could at once take over a large body of important work. To answer such enquiries information frequently has to be collected from every part of the world. For example, the request for advice as to the sources of supply and the best methods of treating Furcroea and Sansevieria

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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