| Description | The Committee appointed by the Council to discuss the various questions which arose with respect to the formation of the National Physical Laboratory have considered several matters besides that on which Rucker has sent official reply to the Treasury. 'Woods & Forests' can legally grant any lease longer than from year to year, the Committee would of course prefer a more certain tenure and Rucker was directed to ask Spring-Rice whether a short bill could not be introduced to put the matter on a more satisfactory footing.
There are two points which require consideration: whether there is any probability of the Deer Park being sold and how this would affect the rights of the National Physical Laboratory; and to whom the buildings of the laboratory will belong, the Society or the Government? The present Kew Observatory belongs to the Crown.
Details the general plan of the extension if the difficulties concerning building in the Deer Park could be overcome; the buildings should be erected within the present enclosure, the hut presently used for the magnetic measurements would have to be moved. Thinks it doubtful how far £12,000 will allow much to be done in the way of erecting a building for operations of an industrial character involving the use of heavy machinery. Sir Andrew Noble and Sir J Wolfe-Barry agreed that the technical department should have 15 acres alloted to it. If the institution succeeds it is possible that in future the whole of the magnetic observatory may have to move.
Shall be glad to hear the views of the Treasury on the various points raised in this letter. |