CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 447 



unbounded enthusiasm and activity in the cause of Geography, as exemplified 

 "by the late Professor Herbertson. 



If we could capture some wandering Carnegie, a-nd persuade him to endow 

 Chairs of Geography at the various Universities, as required, with an adequate 

 number of scholarships, the problem might be solved ; but, in the absence 

 of such a benefactor or benefactors, is it not the duty of the Government to 

 ensure that the teaching of so important a subject is adequately provided for 

 and properly encouraged, so that in our schemes of reconstruction one great 

 drawback to our economical, political, and commercial progress may be remedied? 

 For, depend upon it, a full and scientific knowledge of Geography will be more 

 than ever necessary in the immediate future. 



If Professor Fleure had not, unfortunately, had to return home yesterday, 

 he would have been here this afternoon. He has authorised me to suggest on 

 his behalf that the Minister of Education should be pressed to appoint a 

 Departmental Committee on Geography, as he has already done in the case 

 of History and other subjects. 



Professor Myres and Mr. Peake also desire me to state that it is only their 

 duties in another part of the building which prevent their being present to 

 support very strongly the views here laid before you. 



Mr. C. 13. Fawcett (Leeds University, and Secretary of the Geograpliical 

 Section), in starting the discussion, said that the citizen who knows nothing 

 of the countries of the world cannot give a sensible vote on any question. He 

 pointed out that two-thirds of original exploration is carried out by English- 

 speaking men. When it came to giving details of the countries, half was done 

 by Germans, a quarter by Frenchmen, and much less by Englishmen. 



He thought that there was a danger of arousing unnecessary opposition by 

 claiming too much for Geography — e.g., to talk of geographical 'control' as 

 if geographical factors were the sole factors affecting human development. 

 They are vital factors in that development, but Geography is not the whole. 



Geography aimed at studying the relations and reactions between hiunan 

 societies and the earth on which they live, and on which they depend for all 

 the material bases of their existence., This study was evidently of such vital 

 importance to all citizens that it should be unnecessary to insist on its recognition 

 in all the educational institutions of this Empire. ll had been fully recognised 

 in German Universities and Government Departments since the early years of 

 last century, and the knowledge of Geography, which was widespread there, 

 counted considerably in the unexampled expansion of that empire. 



The study of Geography had been emphasised in relation to the British 

 Empire. The fundamental factor in Geography was that the world is the unit 

 for human endeavours and human organisation. Hence every intelligent inhabi- 

 tant of the world should have some knowledge of it, and those concerned in 

 any wide-ranging organisation should know as much geography as possible. 



Colonel A. Burton Brown (Hastings and St. Leonards Natural History 

 Society), in order to show the ignorance of Geography, told a story of a Cabinet 

 Minister who, when Colonel Brown mentioned the Sultan of Sulu, said that 

 he did not know that Colonel Burton Brown had been in Africa, and did 

 not think that the Zulus had a Sultan. 



Mr. Chisholm (Vice-President of the Geographical Section) urged the 

 importance of being quite clear as to what Geography is. He mentioned that 

 a year or two previously he had been invited by the Civil Service Commission 

 to attend a meeting of a committee appointed ' to define and delimit the subject 

 of Geography.' As soon as the committee met, the opinion was expressed that 

 it would be better not to define it, and in the end the committee determined, 

 with Mr. Chisholm as sole dissentient, to define the subject simply as 

 ' Geography ' as understood at the Universities. 



Mr. SowERBUiTS briefly replied, and expressed belief that Mr. Parkinson's 

 paper had proved a success. 



The following resolution vi'as carried unanimously : — 



' That the Council of the British Association be requested to suggest that 

 the Board of Education should hold an inquiry on the teaching of 

 Geography similar to those which have been held on other subjects.' 

 Mr. James E. Liddiard (Bournemouth Natural Science Society) said that 



