DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. The Development Commission was founded by Act of Parliament (19o9) "to pro mote the economic development of the United Kingdom" by recommending advances for aiding and developing agriculture and rural industries, the reclamation and drainage of land, the development and improvement of fisheries, and the construction and improvement of harbours. Since 1921 Ireland has ceased to benefit under the Act. There are eight commissioners appointed by royal warrant, each for a term of eight years, of whom two are salaried. The advances recommended, which may be grants or loans, are made by the Treasury from the development fund, into which the total amount paid by the exchequer down to March 31, 1927, was i4,soo,000, most of which had been used by the end. of that year. The commissioners' recommendations re quire Treasury approval; but without such recommendation payments cannot be made from the fund. Before deciding upon an application, the commissioners must receive a report from the Government department concerned. They also appoint expert advisers, and advisory committees to assist them. Advances may be made to Government departments, public authorities, educa tional or other institutions or associations, but not to individuals or to associations or companies trading for profit.
The commission was set up as a novelty, a quasi-department to supplement existing activities, and to provide a method elastic enough to permit of the endowment of experimental work, at the same time being so closely related to the general machinery of finance and administration through the Treasury and other de partments as to avoid any serious departure from the regular State system.
On the agricultural education side, grants have been made for colleges and college farms, and for farm institutes, where less elaborate instruction is given suitable for farmers and small holders. Provision for agricultural scholarships has also been made. Various experiments have been conducted, e.g., the grow ing of flax, hemp, sugar-beets, willows, tobacco (especially in Ire land), and new varieties of crops. Schemes have been conducted in connection with live stock and poultry improvement, milk recording, utilization of whey, arable dairying, and agricultural use of electricity. Large sums have been devoted to the attempt to promote agricultural co-operation. In carrying out experi mental work the policy of the commission has been not to carry their schemes beyond the experimental stage, but to leave them if successful to be financed by Government or private individuals.
Fisheries have been aided by grants for research made to the fishery departments and to various marine research institutes, the object being to gain that knowledge of fish and their environ ment which is necessary for the best exploitation of the re sources of seas and rivers. Large loans have been made for installing motors in fishing boats, and co-operative societies or ganized to assist fishermen in marketing their catch. Fishery harbours have in many cases been improved and deepened to meet the needs of modern fishing vessels, particularly in connection with the herring fishery in north-east Scotland.
The commissioners are empowered to make compulsory orders for the acquisition of land for purposes of development, and also for road improvements. An annual report is published.