CO885-(21-23) — Page 51

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

80

2. The Government of this Colony will be pleased to participate in the facili- ties which will be offered by the proposed Institution, and will gladly co-operate in any measures calculated to further its success.

3. The information contained in your despatch will be communicated to the Director of Agriculture, the Principal Civil Medical Officer, and the Chairman of the Municipal Council, Colombo, and a further despatch will be addressed to you on receipt of their replies.

37224

35150

I have, &c.,

(No. 385.)

HENRY MCCALLUM,

Governor, &c.

SIR,

No. 81.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNORS.

(Barbados.)

(Windward Islands.)

(British Guiana.)

(Jamaica.)

(Miscellaneous.)

SIR,

(Trinidad.)

(British Honduras.)

(Leeward Islands.)

Downing Street, 19 November, 1912.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of [Your telegram of the 8th of November*] [Your despatch, No. 124, of the 14th of Septembert] Your despatch, No. 284, of the 9th of September‡] [Your despatch, No. 300, of the 16th of August§] [Your despatch, No. 330, of the 12th of August]] [Your despatch, No. 160, of the 15th of August¶]

Your telegram of the 13th of August**|

and to inform you that I have learned with satisfaction that your Government have decided to support the scheme for co-operation between the Entomological Research Committee and the West Indian Colonies, and to contribute towards the expenses which will be incurred by the Committee in connection with this extension of their work.

[To Jamaica only: I observe, however, that you state that you cannot guarantee that the vote for £50, which is to be included in next year's Estimates, will be agreed to, as you are also making provision for an Entomologist. It would, in my opinion, be very regrettable if either of these two items should be excised from the Estimates, especially as the appointment of an Entomologist will enable the Colony to take fulĺ advantage of the services which the Committee will be able to render, and I trust therefore that you will press for the retention of the provision both for the Ento- mologist and for the contribution to the Committee.]

2. All the West Indian Colonies having now expressed their willingness to contribute their share of the total sum of £250, which it is estimated will be necessary to enable the Committee to carry out the scheme, the only question that remains to be settled is the date from which the payment of contributions should be made. I have referred this matter to the Committee, and they advise me that, as they have already put in hand certain work on behalf of West Indian Colonies, the first contri- bution would appear strictly to be payable in respect of the current financial year. But while they will be glad to receive any contributions which can be paid at once, they do not wish to press the point, if there should be difficulties in the of payment this year. I have decided, therefore, to leave it to you to determine whether your Government should be asked to make a contribution in respect of the current financial year, but I trust that, in the absence of any special reason to the contrary, this will be arranged. In any event, contributions will become payable as from the 1st of April next in respect of the coming financial year.

way

3. Contributions should be paid direct to the Crown Agents for the Colonies for the account of the Committee.

I have, &c..

L. HARCOURT.

81

No. 82.

JAMAICA.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 25 November, 1912.)

[Answered by No. 95.]

King's House, Jamaica, 1 November, 1912. WITH reference to my despatch, No. 300, dated the 18th August, 1912,* on the subject of a contribution from this Colony in connection with the proposals of the Entomological Research Committee for the extension of the scope of their work to the West Indies, I have the honour to transmit, for your information, a copy of a letter from the Director of Agriculture urging the desirability of appointing an entomo- logist on the staff of his department.

2. This proposal was considered by me in Privy Council on the 15th ultimo, but before coming to a decision in the matter I considered it desirable that informa- tion should first be obtained as to the probable cost of a preliminary visit by an expert as suggested by Mr. Cousins in paragraph 3 of his letter.

3. I should therefore be much obliged if you would be so good as to cause the Entomological Research Committee to be consulted, with the request that they will favour me with their advice in the matter.

I have, &c.,

SIR,

Enclosure in No. 82.

SYDNEY OLIVIER,

Governor.

The DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE to the COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Department of Agriculture, Hope, Kingston Post Office,

Jamaica, 2nd August, 1912. I HAVE the honour to request the consideration of the Government of the desirability of appointing an entomologist on the staff of this Department, in order to complete its technical equipment for dealing with the agricultural problems of the

Island.

2. Although there are no insect pests at the moment demanding immediate investigation in order to safeguard the industries of the Colony, and it is possible for an entomologist to be dispensed with if funds do not permit of the appointment of such an officer, it is yet submitted that there is a large field of usefulness awaiting the labours of such a scientist in Jamaica, and that the work of a Mosquitoes, competent worker should prove of practical benefit in many ways.

flies, fleas, and ants suggest themselves as subjects for study in relation to public health, while the parasitology of scale insects opens up a field in which the lime and citrus industries may be benefited.

3. I am inclined to the view that it might be the best policy to get out a man

of proved capacity (such, for example, as Professor Newstead) for three years and to give him every facility for investigation, so that a general survey of the economic entomology of Jamaica could be made and the results recorded in the form of a publication. A younger man at a smaller salary could then be appointed regularly on the staff.

We could doubtless get sound advice from the Entomological Committee recently appointed by the Secretary of State as to the best policy for this Government to adopt in the matter, if His Excellency approves of this project and considers that it is opportune to deal with it.

I have, &c.,

The Honourable

The Acting Colonial Secretary,

Kingston.

H. H. COUSINS,

Director of Agriculture.

⚫35448 not printed

See No. 83.

+ No. 65.

.:

No. 64.

§ No. 62.

| No. 61.

No. 59.

No. 57.

30949

• No. 62.