17 



judging by the amount of useful detail that we have received 

 on the agricultural side from men in a similar capacity, that 

 what we do get from these correspondents will be found equally 

 useful. 



" I earnestly hope that the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee 

 will be in every way successful. I do not think you could have 

 conceived a better method of celebrating it, and I know our 

 friend Mr Galloway, who is always full of enthusiasm and interest 

 in the work, will do everything to assure these guests a very 

 hearty welcome. In connection with the Diamond Jubilee, I 

 am glad to be able to tell you that the Board decided the other 

 day to give a grant to the Society for the purpose. This grant 

 is, I think, historical in respect that it is probably the first money 

 that has ever passed into the coffers of the Arboricultural Society 

 from any Government Department. I only hope that it will be 

 the forerunner of other assistance that I cannot of course myself 

 foreshadow." 



The Chairman said : " As we have a discussion this afternoon 

 practically devoted to this, I don't propose that we should discuss 

 it further at present. I would only wish in your name to thank 

 Mr Sutherland for what he has said. He has told us that the 

 gift is a historic one, that this is the first time that we have seen 

 the colour of the Board of Agriculture's money, but I cannot, 

 even while thanking him, fail to point out that although we have 

 received a promise, the amount which we are to receive was, I 

 think, not stated. This, I am sure, will be remedied before 

 long. You all know how difficult it is for a Government official 

 to come here and say much about the work of his own 

 office. I think we must all make as much allowance as possible 

 for that when listening to a responsible representative who is 

 here to speak for a Government Department. And of course 

 what we find in what Mr Sutherland has said is no doubt more 

 in the nature of what he hopes may take place in the future than 

 of what has actually been done. That I think we shall see very 

 clearly when we come to the afternoon's discussion. We shall, 

 I think, in the course of that discussion, have occasion to pass 

 severe criticisms on what has actually taken place. I wish, 

 however, to say that in any hard things which may be said 

 this afternoon there is not one personal word directed at Mr 

 Sutherland. I hope we shall all keep that most clearly in 

 our minds." 



b 



