44 QUEEN STREET
EDINBURGH, 2
Telephone, 30317
ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF RURAL SCOTLAND
OFFICE-BEARERS
Honorary President
Sir JOHN STIRLING MAXWELL, Bt., K.T.
President
The Rt. Hon. THE EARL OF HADDINGTON, M.C.
Vice-President
Sir IAIN COLQUHOUN, Bt., K.T., D.S.O.
Chairman of Council
Hon. W. T. H. SCOTT, MASTER OF POLWARTH
Joint Hon. Secretaries
F. C. MEARS, A.R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
LESLIE GRAHAME-THOMSON, A.R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
Hon. Treasurer
Professor F. G. BAILY, M.A., M.I.E.E., etc.
Organising Secretary
EDWARD M’GEGAN
OFFICE: 44 QUEEN STREET, EDINBURGH
Telephone 30317
ANNUAL REPORT, 1942
THE Council have pleasure in submitting the Annual Report of the Association, together with a Statement of Finances for the year ended 31st December 1941.
Cordial thanks are again due to the office-bearers of the Association for their personal services during the course of the past year.
The death of two ex-officio members of the Council, Brigadier the Honourable Evan Baillie of Dochfour, Convener of the Inverness-shire Branch, and Group-Captain J. E. Tennant of Innes, Honorary Secretary of the Moray and Nairn Branch, is recorded with deep regret; and also the death of Mr A. K. Bell, who was a very generous benefactor of the Association.
The Council have met regularly each month (August and September excepted). By courtesy of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland the monthly meetings of the Council have been held as for some years past at 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, and they desire to express again their cordial thanks to the Royal Incorporation for this facility.
The Press has to be warmly thanked for its interest in the objects and work of the Association.
In the interest of economy the Council issue only a brief report this year.
The appeal made by the Council in November 1939 for continued support is still meeting with a very encouraging response. They again confidently ask for the support of all members throughout the period of the war. Every care will be taken to economise, while maintaining the efficiency of the organisation to enable it to meet all war-time demands and effectively to undertake its post-war responsibilities.
Hydro-Electric Development in the Highlands
The main activity of the Association in the year 1941 was concerned with the Grampian Electricity Supply Order Confirmation Bill. This Bill was the seventh attempt since 1928 to establish hydro-electric schemes on a large scale in the Highland area, all promoted by companies to serve their own ends. The Council have satisfaction in recording that the Bill was defeated, as all its predecessors had been.
Our last Annual Report recorded that the Council of the Association had decided to oppose the Provisional Order for the Grampian scheme – a decision which was unanimously endorsed by the Annual Meeting of the Association on 28th May – and had accordingly lodged a Petition against it with the Secretary of State for Scotland; that the Order had been referred for inquiry to Commissioners sitting in Scotland; that the Inquiry was held in private in Edinburgh in April; that the Council had prepared evidence in support of their Petition and were represented at the Inquiry; and that the Commissioners had found the preamble of the Order “proved” and had passed the Order subject to certain amendments. In anticipation of the introduction of the necessary Confirmation Bill in the House of Commons the Council continued their opposition to the scheme.* Letters were sent on two occasions to all Members of Parliament, and communications from the Association were published in the Times, the Scotsman, the Glasgow Herald and other newspapers. A pamphlet, entitled The Development of Highland Water Power, written by Professor Baily, was printed and was sent to Members of Parliament, newspapers and other influential quarters; and close contact was maintained with the Amenities Group in Parliament, with the Council for the Preservation of Rural England, and with other Bodies.
The Second Reading of the Confirmation Bill was taken in the House of Commons on 10th September. Mr Keeling, M.P. for Twickenham, moved the rejection of the Bill on the grounds that the scheme was contentious, disturbed national unity, could not be carried out during the war, and might not be suitable or beneficial in the unpredictable conditions prevailing after the war. In advising the House to accept Mr Keeling’s amendment, the Secretary of State for Scotland said:
“What the House must decide to-day is whether or not it desires to see specific statutory powers and franchises in connection with Highland water-power to be operated by a private corporation in post-war years, until the year 2015, or whether Parliament will reserve its decision as to the future utilisation of the power assets of these Highland glens until such time as we can make a better estimate of post-war conditions, or until such time as the Government are in a position to bring forward their own proposals for the co-ordination of the hydro-electric resources of this country.”
On the intervention of the Chairman of Committees, Mr Keeling agreed to withdraw his amendment and moved that the Bill be read “upon this day three months,” on the understanding that as a result of this amendment the Bill was dead.
Two of the most beautiful of our Highland glens – Glen Affric and Glen Cannich – have thus been saved, for a time at least. The Council are convinced that members of the Association will cordially agree that the strenuous opposition which the Council made to the Caledonian Power Bills of 1936, 1937 and 1938, and to the Grampian Power Bill of 1941, has been amply justified.
* The whole of the expenditure incurred was met by individual contributors.
The subject of the development of water-power resources in Scotland was subsequently carried a stage further by the announcement on 28th October that the Scottish Council on Post-War Problems, which consists of five ex-Secretaries of State for Scotland (Lord Alness, Colonel Elliot, Colonel Colville, Sir Archibald Sinclair and Mr Ernest Brown), had recommended that a Committee be appointed to consider the problems of water-power in Scotland, and that the Secretary of State had appointed such a Committee. The terms of reference to the Committee are:
“To consider (a) the practicability and desirability of further developments in the use of water-power resources in Scotland for the generation of electricity, and (b) by what type of authority or body such developments, if any, should be undertaken, and under what conditions, having due regard to the general interests of the local population and to considerations of amenity, and to report.”
The Council offered to give evidence before this Committee, and a Memorandum, drafted by Professor Baily, adjusted by the Hydro-Electric Committee, and approved by the Council, was sent with other relevant documents to the Government Committee, Professor Baily giving evidence on 23rd March and supplying further details by request subsequently. In addition to formulating the views of the Council on the large schemes mentioned above, plans were put before the Government Committee for the development of the water-power on the western coast, which offers numerous sources of power, moderate in size but ample for any prospective industries and domestic uses, and exceptionally low in cost of development. From their smaller individual size and the favourable configuration of the area, they would cause little injury to the amenity of the glens and lochs, and the distributing lines would be short and inconspicuous. A plentiful supply of electric power at a low price would greatly assist the inception of many local industries in this area to the benefit of the inhabitants.
National Parks
The Council’s National Parks Committee met on several occasions during the year, and in October it recommended to the Council that as the provision of National Parks would doubtless be one of the matters included in the Government’s policy for post-war reconstruction, it was highly desirable that the subject should be considered by Bodies in Scotland to whom it was of interest so that a comprehensive and workable scheme for the provision of National Parks in Scotland might be submitted to the Government. The Council approved the recommendation and decided to convene a Conference to consider the whole subject and to constitute a Standing Council on National Parks in Scotland for the purpose of drawing up a policy for the provision and administration of Scottish National Parks. The proposed Conference was held by permission of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland at 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, on 10th January 1942.
The following Bodies were represented:
(a) Societies
Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland, Boy Scouts Association (Scottish Headquarters), Boys’ Brigade, British Institute of Adult Education (Scottish Branch), Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland (Glasgow and West of Scotland District Association), Cyclists’ Touring Club, Educational Institute of Scotland, Highland Development League, Holiday Fellowship, Ltd., National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Scottish Forestry Society, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Water-Colours, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Saltire Society, Scottish Car Camping Club, Scottish Land and Property Federation, Scottish Mountaineering Club, Scottish Ramblers’ Federation, Scottish Rights of Way and Recreation Society, Ltd., Scottish Society for the Protection of Wild Birds, Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes, Scottish Youth Hostels Association, Society of Scottish Artists, Town and Country Planning Association (Scottish Branch), Town Planning Institute (Scottish Branch), Workers’ Educational Association (Scotland), Zoological Society of Scotland.
(b) Government Departments
Department of Agriculture for Scotland, Department of Health for Scotland, Forestry Commission.
(c) Local Authorities.
Association of Counties of Cities in Scotland.
(d) Carnegie United Kingdom Trust.
The Hon. W. T. H. Scott, Master of Polwarth, Chairman of the Council of the A.P.R.S., presided. There was a very full and constructive discussion, and the following motions were adopted
nem. con.:-
- “That this Conference decides to form a Standing Council on National Parks in Scotland to inquire into the subject of National Parks in Scotland and to draw up a policy for the provision and administration of such Parks for submission to the Government.”
- “That the Council be composed of one representative of each Body represented at the Conference and of such other Bodies as the Council may approve, and of not more than six members of the National Parks Committee of the Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland; further, that this Council appoint an Executive Committee which will report to it from time to time.”
The Standing Council is in process of formation.
It should be recorded that Sir John Sutherland, who represented the Forestry Commission at the Conference, stated that the Commission would be glad to co-operate with the proposed Council and to supply it with information; and that the representative of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland said that that Department would be very willing to co-operate in any possible way. It should further be recorded that in a speech in the Second Reading Debate on the Grampian Power Bill in the House of Commons on 10th September, Sir George Courthope, speaking on behalf of the Forestry Commission, said that shortly before the war the Commission had visited the particular area affected by the Bill, and that they had had in contemplation the formation of a national forest park embracing all this area, and that they hoped to be able to equip it with camping grounds and hostels, giving holiday-makers facilities for enjoyment.
General.
The pre-war activities of the Association in such subjects as the lay-out and design of housing schemes, the preservation of buildings and monuments of historical or architectural interest, roads and bridges, rivers pollution prevention, regulation of advertisements, litter, etc., have been continued whenever possible, and action has been taken in a number of cases concerning the preservation of amenities which were brought to the notice of the Council.
Branches
The Council tender their thanks to the officers and members of the Branches, and would urge them to do all that they can to maintain the organisation which has been built up.
Finances.
It is satisfactory to note that subscriptions and donations for the year show a reduction of less than £14, notwithstanding the increased taxation and the absence of a large number of members on foreign service. The repayment of income tax on subscriptions guaranteed for seven years now brings in £25 without any cost to members, and a more extended adoption of this beneficial allowance would produce a substantial addition to income. The Treasurer will gladly furnish all information and the form of agreement.
The Carnegie United Kingdom Trust continued their Grant in aid up to a maximum of £150, and this generous assistance has reduced our debt on the year to £36, which is not a serious matter in view of the conditions. They have given us a guarantee up to £100 for the current year, so we shall need all possible support from our members.
The outlays are unavoidably increased by special expenditure on fire-watching and war damage insurance; and a change in staff involved an additional outlay at the change-over, but this will be more than saved in the current year. It may be hoped that the total increase on last year, nearly £20, will be completely removed.
A large expense was incurred by our opposition to the Glen Affric Hydro-Electric scheme, though the other opponents with whom we co-operated treated us very generously. This expenditure was entirely met by special subscriptions for the purpose from certain of our members, so our normal outlays have not been affected.
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