Empire Marketing Board Research Commitments

Abstract

WITH the abolition last year of the Empire Marketing Board, considerable anxiety was felt as to the provision for numerous investigations, in progress and projected, hitherto financed by the Board. Some weeks ago, Mr. J. H. Thomas stated in a written reply to a question in the House of Commons that provision was being made for such investigations (NATURE, Feb. 17, p. 254). In reply to a question by Sir Arnold Wilson asking for more specific information, Mr. Malcolm MacDonald has given the following written answer: “The research schemes financed from the Empire Marketing Fund comprise agricultural and scientific research in the United Kingdom and also in the Dominions, India and the Colonies. It has been arranged for 39 of these schemes, representing an annual cost of approximately £200,000 in all, to be continued, in each case at the same research institution and with the existing personnel. Of these schemes 23 are in the United Kingdom, eight in the Dominions and India and eight in the Colonies. The sum of approximately £115,000 which is required in the next financial year from United Kingdom funds in respect of these schemes will be charged against Votes administered by various Government Departments in this country. The remaining £85,000 is being met by the Governments of the Empire or by the institutions or industries concerned.”