THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18802, 3 March 1923, Page 18

THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S VIEWS.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE,

(Feom Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, January 9. This afternoon there is being held a meeting of the executive of the Imperial Institute under the chairmanship of the Duke of Devonshire, Secretary of State for the Colonies. At the last Imperial Conference it was decided to ask the dominions to increase their grant to the institute. This was done by the dominions, and the money has been used to wipe off a debt. Now, however, the institute is in a position to expand and to be of real value to the dominions and to the Empire as a whole.

Sir Jomes Allen, as head of the New Zealand Committee, has studied the question of (he Imperial Institute with great thoroughness, and he feels that largely owing to the apathy of the dominions themselves its usefulness has declined. Ho feels that it oould be made of very real value as a clearing house of all Empire products if it could be _ • raised from its rather moribund condition. Recently there lias been a suggestion that the War Museum, which is at present in the Crystal Palace, should be housed in the institute. This has been turned down. Now, however, there is a suggestion that a new building for the war trophies should bo erected in such a position as to shut out the light from the Imperial Institute rooms. •This is a project which the High Commissioner will vigorously oppose this afternoon. Moreover, Sir James considers that the Mineral Resources Bureau, set . up during the war and still retained- at oonsidjrable cost, should be merged into the institute, and ho has advised Mr Massey not to continue the dominion grant to the bureau if this is not done. Further, the Entomological Bureau and the Mycological Bureau, both doing good work. Sir James considers should bo a part of the Imperial Institute or closely connected with. it. There is a great future for the institute if it is only run on the right lines. At present it is under the control of the Cqlonial Office, which, iff itself, is "got a good thing. If it is to be the success it could be, and a centre for up-to-date information concerning the products and trade of all the dominions and colonies, a radical change will have to take place in its management, and the representatives of the dominions will have to take a more active and serious part in its control.

housted, although under the enthusiastic leadership of Professor Tovey the loss on the annual series of concerts has been reduced from £llOO a year to £BOO. Few British cities have the advantage of a partially endowed orchestra, and it will be a scandal to the capital if for lack of public snpoprt the organisation is allowed to collapse. SCOTS GREYS’ HEADQUARTERS. The St. Andrew’s Society has raised a. timely protest against the War Office pro'posal to move the depot of the Royal Scots Greys from Dunbar to Canterbury. This, it is alleged, is merely another step in what has been a continuous process of divorcing originally Scottish regiments from their native soil, and specific instances are adduced in support of the complaint. When Piershall Barracks, Edinburgh, were closed and the Scots Greys were transferred to York, on assurance was given that the change was only temporary, and that cavalry would be installed at the new barracks at Bedford. The Greys are the only regiment of Scottish cavalry*, a branch of the service for which the War Office has always complained that Scottish recruits were few. A change of the kind now contemplated, which has only short-sighted economy to recommend it, will not increase the number.