Record

CMB - Committee minute books of the Royal Society
- 110 - British National Committee of the Pacific Science Committee

RefNo	CMB/110/1
Level	File
Title	Minutes of a meeting of the British National Committee of the Pacific Science Association
Date	8 February 1935
Description	'Minutes of the meeting of the British National Committee of the Pacific Science Association held on 8 February 1935 at 14.30 in the rooms of the Royal Society Present: Sir Gerald Lenox-Conyngham in the chair; Dr E J Butler; Professor F Debenham; Captain J A Edgell; Professor J Stanley Gardiner; Dr J Gray; Dr S W Kemp; Mr D J Matthews; Professor G I Taylor; Professor R S Troup Letters expressing regret at being unable to attend the meeting had been received from Professor E V Appleton, Professor J Proudman, Sir John Russell, Dr G C Simpson and Sir Gilbert Walker. 1. The Question of finding a suitable successor to Dr Wayland Vaughan as Chairman of the International Committee on the Oceanography of the Pacific was discussed. An opinion having been expressed that, as the Committee did not undertake any research work, the utility of its continuance was open to question, a discussion of its function ensued and, though no resolution was proposed, the view of the majority of those present was that the Report presented by the Chairman of the Committee (Dr Vaughan) was a valuable index to and summary of the work that had been done in the period under review, that the Committee should therefore receive support and that it was important to secure a suitable Chairman. After some discussion it was decided that Professor T G Thompson of the University of Washington was the most suitable person to succeed Dr Vaughan and the Chairman was authorised to write to Dr Vaughan to that effect. 2. During the discussion of the function of the International Committee it was agreed that it would be useful to assist in the preparation of the Report to Congress by furnishing information as to any work done by British agency in the Pacific Region. It was decided that it would be well to have two reporters, one on the physical side and one on the biological, and that Professor Proudman should be asked to be the physical reporter. Dr F S Russell of the Marine Biological Association was considered the most suitable person to undertake the biological reporting and as he is not a member of the Committee the Chairman was instructed to ask the Council of the Royal Society to invite him to join the Committee. 3. The letters from Dr Tory, Chairman of the "Hold-over" Committee appointed at the end of the fifth Congress, on the subject of finding a suitable place for the sixth Congress were read and discussed. The Chairman informed the Committee that he had had conversations with the Colonial Office as to the possibililty of an invitation being issued by any of the British Dependencies in the Pacific Area, that the Colonial Office were giving the Question sympathetic consideration and were examining the various possibilities. The discussion ranged over all the places from which an invitation might possibly be received. The sense of the Committee was that as two Congresses have been held in British Dominions, to wit - the second in Australia and the fifth in British Columbia, it would be reasonable to look to some other country for the next invitation, but that, clearly, the British Committee could not take any action in the matter. The sums that are believed to have been spent on previous Congresses were mentioned and the Committee were of Opinion that it was desirable to reduce this expense. In particular the large sums believed to have been spent on publishing the Proceedings were remarked upon and it was agreed that in this, as well as in other directions, there was room for an improved economy. In the matter of finding a place for the next Congress it was felt that nothing could be attempted until the Colonial Office had completed their examination of the question. '
Extent	2p
Format	Typescript
AccessStatus	Open

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