CO885-(6-7) — Page 423

Confidential.

Miscellaneous

No. 109.

EMIGRANTS' INFORMATION OFFICE.

428

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

#PPC.O. 885

9

Memorandum.

The Treasury agree to raise the total Vote for the Office from 1,000l. to 1,5007. per annum, but out of this the Committee must defray rent and all other expenses (except printing and stationery) as before.

They decline to make the Government more responsible for the Office than it has been, and continue to regard the Parliamentary Grant as a grant in aid.

Mr. Chamberlain has asked them to modify their decision to the following extent :—

1. To allow 1002. out of the 1,500l. to be paid to the Colonial Office representative on the Committee, should the Committee so wish.

2. As the Vote is considered a grant in aid, to allow the surplus of each year's Vote to be banked up to 1507. in all, instead of lapsing to the Treasury, the expenditure of the Office being annually submitted to and sanctioned by the Secretary of State.

3. Pending the finding of new premises, to allow the Committee the use of one or other of the rooms in Westminster available for Commission purposes for their general meetings, free of charge.

The reply has not been received up to date. The attention of the Committee is asked to the following points

1. Chairmanship.-Mr. Chamberlain considers that there should be in future only one representative of the Colonial Office on the Committee; that he should be paid to ensure his constant supervision of the work, and that under ordinary circumstances he should be chairman; but he does not wish to in say way interfere with the Committee if they prefer in the present instance another chairman. Mr. Lambert would, if the Treasury agree and the Committee agree, be the paid representative of the Colonial Office on the Committee. He was not suggested by me, but in my opinion the selection is excellent in the interests of the Committee. It is for the Committee to decide whether they consider him to be too young to be chairman or not. He will, if selected, supervise the Office to the same extent, whether he is chairman or not.

2. Premises. For one year from next Lady Day, and, at their option, for two, the Committee will keep the Broadway premises, meeting in a room lent, I hope; gratuitously by the Office of Works. Change of premises hereafter must involve higher rent.

3. Vacancies on the Committee.-It is very impor. tant to secure men who will come regularly to sub-committee meetings. Those meetings ought to

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