A.—2

No. 17. New Zealand, Dominions No. 150. Sir, — Downing Street, 26th March, 1926. With reference to Resolution 1 of the Imperial Botanical Conference, 1924, referred to in Mr. Thomas's 'despatch, Dominions No. 511, of the 27th October, 1924, 1 have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copies of the report of the sub-committee of the Executive Committee of the Conference appointed to advise on the interchange of botanists in the different parts of the Empire. 2. Steps are being taken to constitute the permanent committee referred to in Section IV of the report. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Interchange op Botanists in different Parts of the Empire.—Report of the Sub-committee of the Executive Committee, Imperial Botanical Conference, 1924, appointed to advise on the Best Steps to be taken to give effect to Resolution 4 of the Conference. (This report has been adopted by the Executive Committee.) Your sub-committee has considered a number of possible ways of giving effect to Resolution 4 of the Imperial Botanical Conference, 1924, and makes the following recommendations : — I. That no further steps be take,n for the present with regard to the exchange of botanists in different parts of the Empire where such an exchange would imply that each of an exchanging pair would be charged with the duties of the other. It appears to be impracticable to arrange for an exchange of this nature between heads of departments or persons engaged in lecturing, and inadvisable to complicate proposals to facilitate the interchange of botanical workers by any such proviso. 11. That the interchange of botanical workers in different parts of the Empire be promoted by— (A) Eacilitating visits of British botanists to the Dominions and colonies ; (B) Providing information to overseas botanists regarding the facilities for advanced study and research available in England ; (C) Securing grants for transit and maintenance of British botanists desirous of visiting the overseas parts of the Empire for the purpose of advanced study and research ; (D) Arranging for lectures by individual botanists so that they may visit university centres or research institutions without expense, and that students and others may hear their views at first hand. 111. In order to give effect to recommendations (A) to (D) the sub-committee further suggests— (A) (1) That a list be maintained of botanical workers in England who would be glad to proceed overseas, the names to be communicated with a statement by the heads of the institutions concerned that the visit is approved and facilities for leave with/without pay will be given. (2) That the shipping companies be approached with a view to securing free or reduced-rates passages from England to the Dominion or colony concerned and back. Eight free first-class passages annually have been placed at the disposal of the Universities Bureau of the British Empire* by the Australasian iines, for graduates of the universities of Great Britain and Ireland who wish to visit Australia or New Zealand (a) for the purpose of holding temporary teaching posts, or (b) for the purpose of prosecuting research into problems connected with their development and resources. Some of these might become available for botanists. They are restricted to applications supported by the authorities of the graduate's university, are available at certain times of the year only, and cover only a part of the Empire, so that further facilities on simlar lines or on a reduced-fare basis (possibly by a cheaper class) should be sought. (3) That information of value to the intending traveller, especially such as would enable him to get into touch with the right people at the other end, be provided in England. Much information as regards universities is already available at the Universities Bureau of the British Empire, but it requires amplification in matters of special interest to botanists and extension to cover institutions other than universities, including Government Departments. (B) That a list be drawn up of the institutions in England that provide research facilities for overseas workers, with information regarding the facilities available in each. As far as research students are concerned, the facilities available in universities and associated institutions, regulations for degrees such as the Ph.D., and other academic information likely to be required by overseas visitors are dealt with in the British Empire Universities Year-book, issued annually by the Universities

* See Appendix I,

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