HL Deb 01 July 1924 vol 58 cc86-8

Purposes of the Imperial Institute.

1. To collect and disseminate—

  1. (a) information relating to possible uses of and markets for new raw materials or semi-manufactured products;
  2. (b) information relating to new uses of and markets for already known raw materials or semi-manufactured products;
  3. (c) information relating to sources production, supplies, cost, consumption and requirements of raw materials and semi-manufactured products, and legislation relating thereto;
  4. (d) information relating to the best means of increasing supplies, or of creating new sources of supplies, of such materials and products within the Empire;
  5. (e) information relating to the best means of treating such materials and products and of preparing them for marketing;
  6. (f) technical and scientific information bearing upon the industries of the British Empire.

2. To advise on the development of the resources of the Empire in raw materials, in order that such resources may be made available for the purposes of industry and commerce and of Imperial defence.

3. To conduct preliminary investigations of raw materials and, when it may be deemed advisable, to arrange for more detailed investigation by appropriate scientific or technical institutions.

4. To collect samples of raw materials having a definite value in industry and commerce.

5. To co-operate with other agencies within the Empire formed for similar purposes.

6. To organise, so far as practicable, exhibitions of Empire products.

7. To do anything incidental to or conducive to carrying into effect all or any of the foregoing purposes.

LORD ARNOLD moved, at the beginning of the Schedule, to insert the following new paragraph: 1. To promote the commercial, industrial and educational interests of the British Empire.

The noble Lord said: This Amendment really incorporates the first part of the Amendment of Lord Islington. He was good enough to give the Government plenty of opportunity to consider his view on these matters, and I am happy to think that we have been able to meet him, because, in one way or another, practically the whole of his Amendment is now incorporated in this Schedule. The first part of the Amendment is really a general definition of the purposes of the Institute. It is a wider definition than was in the Bill before, and I consider that the Government is indebted to the noble Lord, because the Amendment which I am now moving, founded upon his, is, in my opinion, an improvement on the Bill as originally drafted. This Amendment and the others which follow on these lines, incorporating down the various paragraphs of this Schedule the original Amendment of the noble Lord, will make quite clear, I think, on broad lines what the purposes of the Institute are. I think there is now agreement in regard to this matter.

Amendment moved— Page 6, line 3, at end insert the said new paragraph,-—(Lord Arnold.)

LORD ARNOLD moved, in paragraph 3, after "conduct" to insert "in the laboratories of the Institute."

Amendment moved— Page 6, line 27, after ("conduct") insert the said words.—(Lord Arnold.)

Amendment moved—

Page 6, lines 35 and 36, leave out paragraph 6 and insert: (" 7. To maintain for public information and instruction in the exhibition galleries of the imperial Institute exhibitions illustrative of the resources and development of the Empire and of its scenery, life and progress, and, where practicable, to organise from time to time temporary exhibitions of a similar nature elsewhere ").—(Lord Arnold.)

First Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Second Schedule: