A.—6a

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We are fully aware of the financial difficulties of the time, and we wish to emphasize our desire that the institution should be started as early as possible—provided always that a sufficient sum can be guaranteed to ensure efficiency —even if it is not possible: at first to raise the full amount of money which would be desirable, (6.) With regard to the qualifications to be demaneied of probationers entering the institution and with special reference to paragraph 8 of the report (co-ordination of University courses), we fully agree with the principle that a common standard of previous training is highly desirable. At the same time we feel that if the institution is to fulfil its role as a centre of post-graduate training, adapted to meet the need of the different portions of the Empire, a considerable degree of flexibility in its regulations as to admission will probably be found necessary. In the circumstances we consider that, while a common standard of previous training shoulel be aimed at in course of time, the qualifications to be demanded of the various probationers must be left to the decision of the Department or Government which selects them ; provided always that the standard of such qualification must be sufficiently high to enable them to take due advantage of the course provided by the institution without retarding the progress of the other students. Points of elifficulty should be capable of settlement between the Board of Control and the Department concorneel. The admission of private students to the institution woulel be subject to the decision of the Boarei of Control. (c.) We endorse the recommendation of the Committee with regard to the association of research with the educational function of the institution, and we recommend that close liaison should bo maintained between the institution and other centres of forest research in order to prevent overlapping and to ensure co-ordination of effort. 7. We wish to draw attention to a function of the institution to which we attach great importance, and which seems hardly to have received the, attention it deserves. We believe that the association of forest officers from different parts of the Empire when attending " special " or " refresher " courses cannot fail to be of great benefit to all concerned. Much light may be: thrown on the problems to be dealt with in one part of the Empire by experience gained elsewhere. As things are, the experience of forest officers is too often confined to one locality, and we believe that the institution can do valuable work in remedying this tleficiency. We also attach importance to the association of young probationers with experienceei forest officers who may be attending the institution at the same time. 8. In conclusion, we strongly endorse the view of the 1920 Conference that a central institution for post-graduate and specialized training in forestry, combined with research, is essential to the proper development of the forest resources of the Empire. We believe that these resources can only be so developed if tho supervising staff receive a high standard of training ; that the facilities at present existing for providing such training are insufficient of themselves, but that if supplemented by an institution of the kind proposed the necessary standard could be attained. Having regard also to the great potential forest resources of the Empire and of the increased yield which has followed, notably in India and in certain foreign countries, on the introduction of a more highly trained staff, we believe that the necessary outlay on such an institution would be repaid several times over by increased returns from the forests. It appears to us regrettable that the British Empire, with its vast forest resources, does not yet possess an institution capable of meeting the retjuirements of its own forest officers in advanced training, and that certain of these officers have to seek instruction in foreign countries, while in other cases it has even been found necessary to fill special posts by the appointment of officers of foreign nationality. Wo recommend, therefore, that steps be taken immediately by the Departments concerned to set up a central institution for post-graduate training and research at Oxford University, so that if possible it may begin to function at the opening of the next academic year — i.e., October, 1924. R. D. Furse, Chairman. E. Battiscombe. A. W. Borthwick. C. D. Howe. Owen Jones. C. E. Legat.

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION. The discussion of this matter was begun at the Eighth Meeting of the Conference, held on Tuesday, the 16th October, 1923. The Secretary of State for Home Affairs moved the following resolution: — That a Committee be appointed containing representatives of Great Britain, the Dominions, India, and the colonies to consider the desirability of a common Empire policy as regards the regime applicable under the workmen's compensation laws to non-resident workmen, and to seamen, and to the nationals of foreign countries, according as reciprocity is or is not given by the latter. In moving this resolution Mr. Bridgeman said that since 1911 there had been a great development of workmen's compensation legislation, and each Legislature had worked out its own problem in its own way, with the result that there were considerable divergencies of practice, too wide, in some cases,