CO885-(26N14) — Page 21

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

885/26

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

eventually become, as far as possible, independent and self contained as regards the examination of their own products, and from this point of view it is of importance that they should not feel themselves in any way fettered by the policy pursued by the Institute,

20. Although the collection of information relating to Colonial raw materials has always formed an important part of the work of the Institute, the Technical Information Byreau was first constituted a distinct department of the Institute in 1914. It is proposed that it should now be enlarged and form the Intelligence Branch of the Raw Materials Department, and that its staff should in future consist of a Controller and eight Assistants. Two Assistants would be attached to each of its four principal divisions which are concerned, respectively, with (1) technical and commercial inquiries; (2) the indexing of technical publications and the collection, revision and arrangement of information; (3) the preparation of reports and publica- tions, including the Bulletin; (4) the supervision of the library and maps. The staff at present is composed of four Superintendents and four Assistants, besides clerks and messengers, and costs £3,000 per annum. Under the new arrangement the cost would be £4,535 rising to £6,350. 21. The witnesses examined by the Committee were practically unanimous in their expres- sion of appreciation of this side of the Institute's work. They gave many illustrations of its value and made several important suggestions for the extension of its usefulness. These related mainly to the necessity for a more systematic and exhaustive survey of the natural resources of the different parts of the Empire and for the more complete organization of the means of collecting information regarding raw materials. For the latter purpose closer official touch with the Colonies was advocated. At present inquiries and samples reach the Institute through various channels, usually the Technical Departments of the Colonies, but no one department or individual is specially charged with the duty of keeping the Institute regularly supplied with information. This want, it was suggested, might be supplied by the appointment of some one person in each Dominion and Colony to act as official correspondent of the Institute. The need of better organization in this connection is freely admitted in the following paragraph which occurs in one of the Memoranda submitted on behalf of the Institute to the Dominions Royal Commission: "Only with a properly organized channel of correspondence will it be possible for the Governments of the Dominions to have an official touch with the Institute and an active interest in it. The mere fact that there has hitherto been so much ignorance about its work and its aim is a sufficient indication of defect in the present arrangements.'

"

22. The existing means for disseminating the information that comes into the possession of the Institute were also considered to require supplementing, publication in the Bulletin, at any rate with its present limited circulation, being in the opinion of the witnesses who spoke on the point, inadequate.

23. The Committee believe that it is as a Clearing House for information regarding raw material that the Institute can most usefully take its place in the future organization of the Empire, and they consider that this end will be best achieved by concentrating attention upon the Intelligence rather than the Investigations side of its work. The Investigations work can be carried out largely by other institutions, but no other institution is in a position to serve as a connecting link between all parts of the Empire in respect of information on the subject of their natural products. One of the witnesses in advocating this view said: "My idea would be for the Intelligence Branch to be made its main feature so that the Institute would become the Clearing House of all information bearing upon the industrial utilization of the Empire's products, whereby any part of the Empire could be put in touch with any other part in regard to the production and utilization of a particular material, the Institute drawing to itself infor- mation as to sources of raw material on one side and submitting samples to the appropriate organization, whether here or in other parts of the Empire, for investigation and for information as to utilization. It would then communicate the results to the firms interested or to other inquirers. This would enable the Institute to perform an important function which could best be performed by a central organization." It is not suggested that there should be any break with the past policy and practice of the Institute, but that, in future developments, prominence should be given to its Intelligence function rather than to its Investigations function as is contemplated in the scheme submitted to the Committee.

24. It may be pointed out here that the objection which the Dominions Royal Commission express so strongly to the Institute's claim to the place of an Investigations Department for the whole Empire would not apply to its role of an Imperial Clearing House. In this branch of its work the Institute might reasonably look for the cordial co-operation of all parts of the Empire.

25. The claim for increased financial support for the Intelligence Branch rests on a different footing from that advanced on account of the Investigations Branch, inasmuch as the Intelligence Branch fills an unique place in Imperial organization. But the success of this Branch is absolutely dependent on the active co-operation of the Dominions and Colonies. Without this, its work must be more or less desultory-valuable as far as it goes, but wanting in the system and scope which a truly Imperial scheme demands. The first step, therefore, towards making the Institute efficient on this side of its work must be to secure the approval and support of the Colonies themselves, and until this condition is fulfilled little result can be expected merely from the re-organization of the central establishment. Nor is there any proper basis for fixing the scale of the establishment until it is known how many of the Colonies are prepared to come into the scheme and to what extent they are prepared to support it.

26. It is proposed also to strengthen the establishment of the Exhibition Galleries by additions both to the technical and the subordinate staffs. The annual cost of the department,

t

which amounts at present to £2,200 would, under the new scheme, be increased to £4,450 rising to £5,850.

27. The Committee spent a morning in the galleries under the guidance of the Director, who explained the arrangement of the Collections and described the measures which have been taken recently to improve them. The general arrangement of the exhibits is geographical. This enables the visitor to obtain without difficulty a view of the natural products of any one part of the Empire and is most suitable for the general public and intending emigrants. It was pointed out, however, by one of the witnesses that an arrangement which brought together specimens of the same kinds of material from all part of the Empire, and thus admitted of their easy comparison would be better adapted to trade purposes. Such a collection has already been formed in one of the galleries, but on a limited scale. Its extension would seem desirable when space is available, and in any case means should, the Committee consider, be devised to make its existence more widely known.

28. Some of the collections reach a high standard of excellence, but it was impossible not to be struck by the inequality of the exhibits from the different parts of the Empire. The Committee were given to understand that steps are being taken to remedy this as quickly as possible, but the appointment of some one person in each Colony who should be responsible for keeping its exhibits up to date would seem to be the only way of securing a really satisfactory representation of its products. Much thought and care, however, have evidently been bestowed on the methods of exhibition and some novel features have recently been introduced with a view to rendering the galleries attractive to the public.

29. In connection with this department of the Institute's work it is proposed in future to arrange for special exhibitions in industrial centres of materials which have been investigated at the Institute, but no particulars are given on which an estimate can be based as to how far this new departure is responsible for the large increase of expenditure proposed under this head. While this and other developments in connection with the Exhibitions Department are no doubt desirable they cannot be considered in any sense as urgent.

30. Although, for the reasons already indicated, the Committee are unable to recommend that the Treasury should assume responsibility for financing the scheme of the Executive Council, they consider that something should be done to improve the position of the existing staff. The pay of the Assistants does not compare unfavourably with that of men of similar standing engaged elsewhere on the same class of work, but the salaries of the senior members require revision. Some of these men have been many years in the employment of the Institute, to which they have rendered valuable services in return for small remuneration. They have acquired great experience of the special work of their various departments and some of them could not be replaced without serious loss. An improvement of their position would not only be a proper recognition of their services but would also help the Institute to retain the services of the younger members of its staff by holding out to them the prospect of future advancement. At present it is a matter of serious complaint by the Executive Council that as soon as an assistant has acquired experience and become a valuable specialist he leaves the Institute for employment which offers better immediate remuneration and better prospects. This is un- doubtedly one of the great difficulties with which the Institute has to contend, and it is impossible with its present funds, and especially having regard to the uncertainty of much of its income, to effect any substantial improvement.

31. Regard being had to the scale of remuneration prevailing in analogous institutions the Committee would suggest that a general increase of the salaries carried by the higher posta coupled with some re-arrangement of their duties might be considered on the following lines:- PRESENT APPOINTMENTS AND Salaries of THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL Staff. Head of the Scientific and Technical Dept. Dr. T. A. Henry Senior Supt. of the Scientific and Technical

Dept.

Hend of the Technical Information Bureau

Senior Technical Supt. of the Exhibition

Galleries

Assistant Supts. in Scientific and Technical

Dept. and Information Bureau Acting Supt, of Library

Mr. H. Brown

Dr. E. Goulding

Dr. S. E. Chandler

Mr. R. G. Pelly Mr. T. Crook

Mr. A. H. Girdlestone

APPOINTMENTS AND SALARIES SUGGESTED.

Dr. Henry

Head of the Raw Materials Dept. and Deputy of the Director Head of Investigation Branch of the

Raw Materials Dept. Head of the Intelligence Branch of

the Raw Materials Dept.

the Senior Supt. of

Exhibition Galleries Assistant Supts. in the Raw

Materials Dept.

+

£500

£450 £400

£335 £350

£300

£300

£650 by £25 to £800

..

£500 by £20 to £650

£500 by £20 to £650

-

£400 by £20 to £550

Mr. Brown or Dr. Goulding

Dr. Goulding or Mr. Brown

Dr. Chandler

Messrs. Pelly and Crook

Present Salaries

to be placed on an incremental scale rising by £10 or 15 to £400.

• Mr. Girdlestone has quite recently left the service of the Institute.