A.—.2

No. 15. New Zealand, Dominions No. 189. My Lord,— Downing Street, 22nd April, 1924. With reference to my despatch, Dominions No. 112, of the 12th March, regarding the resolution of the Imperial Economic Conference on the subject of forestry, and to previous correspondence relative to the establishment of a forestry training institution in this country, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, to be laid before your Ministers, copies of a preliminary notice which has been prepared regarding the Forestry Institute now being established at Oxford. 2. It is thought that the facilities for the training of forest officers which the Institute will provide may prove to be of use generally, and it is hoped in particular that the opportunities afforded for interchange of information between officers from different countries may be of value to all concerned. 3. In the circumstances, His Majesty's Government trust that the Dominion and State Governments may find it possible to support the scheme by deputing officers to attend the Institute on the terms set out in paragraphs 5 and 6 of the enclosed notice. 4. A similar despatch has been sent to the officers administering the Governments of the Australian States. I have, &c., J. H. THOMAS.* Governor-General His Excellency the Eight Hon. Viscount Jellicoe, G.C.8., 0.M., G.C.Y.0., &c.

Enclosure. Forestry Institute at Oxford. —Preliminary Notice, April, 1924. Constitution. 1. Origin. —The British Empire Forestry Conference (London, 1920) recommended the establishment in the United Kingdom of one institution which should undertake the higher training of forest officers, and should also be a|centre for research work into the formation, tending, and protection of forests. (Resolution of the British Empire Forestry Conference, 1920, Command Paper 8.65). An was thereupon appointed to prepare a scheme for giving effect to this resolution. The'report of this Committee, issued in 1921 (Command Paper 1166), recommended the establishment at Oxford of a central institution for the higher training of forest officers, for training in research, for the provision of special and " refresher " courses for selected officers already serving, and for the conduct of research into forest-production. The Committee's recommendations were strongly supported by the second British Empire Forestry Conference (Canada, 1923), and were subsequently endorsed by the Imperial Economic Conference held in London the same year. 2. Present Status. —Arrangements are now well advanced for starting an institute on these lines at Oxford in October, 1924. As regards finance, the Forestry Commission and the Colonial Office are proposing jointly to guarantee a sum sufficient to cover the working-expenses over a period of five years. The Commission have already secured the necessary Treasury sanction for their share, and the Colonial Office proposals are at present before the Governments of the non-self-governing colonies and protectorates concerned. The general administration and finance of the Institute will be controlled by a Board composed of an equal number of representatives of the University and of the two Government Departments concerned, and a Provisional Board, consisting of the ViceChancellor, the President of Magdalen, Professors Troup and Adams on the one side, and Lord Clinton (Chairman), Mr. R. L. Robinson, Major Furse, and Lieut.-Colonel G. L. Courthope on the other, has been set up. The Institute will be under the charge of a Director, for which appointment Professor Troup has been selected by the Provisional Board. Work of the Institute. 3. The Institute will perform the functions described in paragraph lin two ways: By giving direct instruction at Oxford through its own staff, and by arranging suitable courses of study in other places. A combination of both methods may be required in some cases. Arrangements will be made at the outset to deal with the following subjects :• — (1.) Silviculture —(a) general (European) ; (b) tropical. (2.) Forest-management —including mensuration, valuation, and the preparation of working plans. Special attention will be paid to methods of laying out sample plots, measuring forest crops, and compiling results. (3.) Forest botany—including physiology and anatomy of trees, pathology (mycology), ecology, and systematic botany.

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