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C.O.885

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33660

78

No. 77.

MINUTES OF THE NINTH MEETING OF THE FINANCE SUB-COM- MITTEE OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE, HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY, 23RD OCTOBER, 1912.

PRESENT:

Dr. HARMER (Chairman).

Sir D. PRAIN.

Mr. READ.

Mr. MARSHALL,

Mr. PARKINSON.

1. The Minutes of the 8th Meeting of the Sub-Committee were approved, subject to the substitution of the word "their" for the word its" in line 4 of sub paragraph (d) of paragraph 2.

Arising out of the minutes, Dr. Harmer enquired what action had been taken with regard to the decision of the Sub-Committee at their last meeting as to the preparation of letters for Lord Cromer to send to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Secretary of State for India on the subject of the proposed extension of the Committee's work to the self-governing Dominions. Mr. Read explained that, as a result of the special conference held in August between members of the Committee and representatives of the self-governing Dominions, official action had been taken to bring to the notice of the Governments concerned the revised scheme of co-operation, and that this had made the action contemplated by the Sub-Committee unnecessary.

2. An audit query as to payments for the Committee's Bulletin was considered. The Crown Agents for the Colonies had reported that the Colonial Audit Depart- ment had asked for an explanation of the receipts from various Colonies for copies of the Bulletin at 10s. per copy, as these receipts appeared to indicate that all copies of the Bulletin other than subscription copies are not accounted for by Messrs. Dulau and Company as required by the terms of the agreement recently entered into with that firin.

Mr. Marshall explained that all subscription copies are accounted for by Messrs. Dulau in their cash statement except those which are purchased by Colonial Governments: these are sent by Messrs. Dulau straight to the Colonial Office: the Colonial Office distributes them and the Crown Agents recover the cost from the Colonial Governments. These copies, therefore, do not appear in Messrs. Dulau's cash statement, but in their stock statement. By this arrangement, the Committee is saved the unnecessary payment of 15 per cent. commission to Messrs. Dulau on the distribution of these special copies.

3. A claim from the Government of Southern Nigeria for £20 19s. 9d. incurred in connection with Mr. Simpson's tour in that country was considered. Following a precedent established in the case of the Gambia, the Sub-Committee expressed the opinion that the sum of £7 10s. Od. included in the claim as wages for one clerk- interpreter for three months should be paid by the Colony and not the Committee. Subject to this reservation, the claim was passed.

4. A despatch from the Governor of Nyasaland dealing with the expenses connected with Mr. Neave's visit to Nyasaland was considered. The Governor estimated the expenditure as follows:

1. Passage from England to destination

2. Heavy baggage from England to Chinde

3. Baggage up river

4. Permanent Camp, dwelling-houses and laboratory

5. Furniture (Government scale) plus transport

6. Additional furnishings for laboratory

7. Scientific staff and working boys, 5 months at £5

per annum

8. Machilamen and porters, say for three months, 41 men

at 5s.

9. Travelling allowance, three months at 2s. 6d. a day 10. Equipment and sundry expenses

• No. 34.

£

70

10

15

225

25

25

*** * 228

£491

† 31312: not printed.

79

The Sub-Committee expressed the opinion that items 1, 2 and 7 were properly chargeable to the Committee, subject to the reservation that the cost of a passage from England to Chinde only should be allowed.

As regards the remaining items, Nos. 3, 8 and 9 were clearly payable by the Nyasaland Government. Some doubt was felt as to the proper allocation of items 4, 5, 6 and 10, totalling £325. Mr. Marshall pointed out that item 10 would probably not be required at all, or might at any rate be cut down considerably. On Mr. Read's suggestion, it was agreed that the Committee should share these expenses with the Government, and a lump sum of £150 was allocated from the funds of the Committee for this purpose.

5. Dr. Harmer raised the question of reference to the Sub-Committee as to the engagement of an extra assistant for the Scientific Secretary in accordance with the terms of paragraph 2 (a) of the Minutes of the 12th General Meeting of the Committee.

Mr. Marshall explained that reference to the Committee had not been necessary, as he had not yet been able to find a suitable man for the work.

In any event, there was no need to fear that funds would not be available, for not only had the Committee a reserve balance in hand, but the West Indian Colonies had now all signified their intention of contributing towards the Committee's work.

31849

35449

No. 78.

MR. L. HARCOURT to THE EARL OF CROMER.

Downing Street, 7th November, 1912. [Published as No. 2 in [Cil. 6429] November, 1912.)

No. 79.

NEWFOUNDLAND.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 10.30 p.m., 8th November, 1912.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 133.]

Your despatch of 3rd October, No. 199.* My Ministers will co-operate in work and will contribute sum of £50 annually for three years. Regarding representation, my Ministers do not consider it necessary that Colony be represented on managing body of Bureau.—WILLIAMS.

30343

No. 80.

CEYLON.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 18 November, 1912.)

[Answered by No. 197.]

The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 31st October, 1912.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 427, of the 3rd of October, † intimating that it is proposed to organise a Central Bureau of Entomology for the British Colonies and Dependencies.

• No. 70.

}

↑ No. 71.

(Miscellaneous. No. 658.)

SIR,