PART V. --3
which separate Amani from large and important agricultural areas in
the Dependencies, where communications are most unfavourable,
would render impracticable the exclusion of research from the functions
of Agricultural Departments, even if there were no other objections.
The expense of conducting research at such distant points with
officers from a Central Institute, the waste of time involved in
travelling and the delay in urgent matters likely to be incurred, would
prove most costly.
_ ‘“ The proposal to transfer the Chemical Department, Kenya, to
Amani is considered to be wholly impracticable. The Chemical
Services, including research, are such that the Laboratory and staff
at Nairobi must be maintained.”’
Mr. Holm mentioned the proposal made in the East African Loan
Committee’s Report, to the effect that a small Commission should
examine the question before further action was taken, and said that
while he did not agree that the appointment of the Director should
be deferred, some time ago he had made a recommendation along
somewhat similar lines and had expressed the opinion that, in order
to prevent mistakes being made in the organisation of agricultural
research in East Africa, it would be helpful to the Secretary of State,
to the different Governments and to the new Director, if the advice
were obtained of men of the attainments of Sir Daniel Hall (Scientific
Adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture), and of Mr. F. B. Smith,
C.M.G. (late Secretary for Agriculture, South Africa), both of whom
also possessed experience in the organisation and administration of
Agricultural services, qualifications which he considered essential.
In conclusion he desired to say that he hoped he would not be
misunderstood in this matter—that he had always supported Amani, if
it was to be re-established on sound lines, but that he considered that
the work of Departments of Agriculture, and the countries which they
served, would suffer severely if Amani was made responsible for those
lines of research and investigational work, which were now properly
performed by the various Departments of Agriculture.
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Northcote) read the conclusions of the
Governors’ Conference in this matter, and observed that it was the
single wish of everyone that Amani should be established and
organised in the interests of agriculture in the East African territories.
He thought, however, that perhaps it would be found difficult for the
Conference to come to any definite conclusions in this matter as it
might create an impasse if conclusions were agreed to which the
Governors of the various territories found themselves unable to accept.
~ He suggested that a note should be taken of the discussion, and
that the Directors of Agriculture should meet and agree, if possible,
on recommendations which they should put to their Governments on
their return. He thought that such action might facilitate the
establishment of Amani.
Mr. SIMPSON agreed with this suggestion.
Mr. HOLM regretted that he was not wholly in accord with this
suggestion, as he regarded it as essential and appropriate that an
opinion should be expressed at a Conference such as the present one
by Directors of Agriculture and also by scientific and technical officers
intimately concerned and whose opinion should be of value to the
Secretary of State.
JAE