| Description | At a meeting of the Joint Antarctic Committee on 20 November a memorandum and a preliminary estimate of expenditure of the Antarctic Expedition, of which a copy is enclosed [not attached], was laid before the Committee by the Commander of the Expedition, R F Scott. The memo contains a series of proposed regulations as to expenditure on preparations. These were urged upon the Committee by Scott as necessary in order to push on preparations for the Expedition. These regulations with some modifications were approved by the Committee.
The regulations entail the appointment of a new Finance Committee dealing exclusively with the finances of the expedition preparation and equipment. The President and Council of the Royal Society are however of the opinion that, in view of the large sum promised by Government in aid of the expedition it is extremely desirable that the finances of the expedition should be watched by a representative of the Treasury. The President and Council therefore hope the Treasury will be willing to accept the suggested duty and nominate some one to the Finance Committee. The member, though he takes the place of the President of the Royal Society on the Committee, will not be charged with any of the interests of the Society, which is directly represented on the Committee by its Treasurer [Alfred Bray Kempe]. |