§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would explain the grounds on which the British Government has not concurred with other European Governments in joining the International Geodetic Bureau of Vienna, the objects of which are important to commerce, navigation, and science, and comprise the collection and collation of all data furnished by the geodetic surveys of all nations, especially information as to the mass of the earth, its form and dimensions, tides, levels, &c.; and whether the cost of so joining involves little more than £100 per annum?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareThe question of joining the re-constituted International Geodetic Bureau was raised just five years ago, the condition being an annual contribution of 2,250f. a year for ten years, besides the expense of sending delegates to attend the meetings of the bureau. Our experience of the International Metric Bureau at that time showed that the expenditure upon such undertakings tends to increase out of proportion to their actual utility, and it was considered that the practical advantages of joining the Geodetic Bureau were not sufficient to justify the guaranteeing of the sum named. So far as I am aware, the question has not been mooted since.