ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF RURAL SCOTLAND (A.P.R.S.)
OFFICE-BEARERS
Honorary President – – SIR JOHN STIRLING MAXWELL, Bt., K.T.
President – – THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF HADDINGTON, M.C.
Vice-President – – SIR IAIN COLQUHOUN, Bt., of Luss, K.T., D.S.O.
Chairman of Council – – THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF GALLOWAY
Vice-Chairman of Council – – LT.-COL. SIR J. D. RAMSAY, Bt., of Bamff, M.V.O., F.S.I. S
Joint Honorary Secretaries – – F. C. MEARS, R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.; LESLIE GRAHAME-THOMSON, A.R.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
Honorary Treasurer – – PROFESSOR F. G. BAILY, M.A., M.I.E.E., etc.
Organising Secretary – – EDWARD MCGEGAN
Office: 44 QUEEN STREET, EDINBURGH Telephone: 30317
ANNUAL REPORT, 1943
THE Council have pleasure in submitting the Annual Report of the Association, together with a Statement of Finances for the year ended 31st December 1942.
Cordial thanks are again due to the office-bearers of the Association for their personal services during the course of the past year.
The Council record with deep regret the death of the Hon. W. T. H. Scott, Master of Polwarth, who was elected Deputy Chairman of the Council in 1933 and had served as Chairman since 1934. During these years he gave devoted service to the Association, and the success of its work since 1934 was in great measure due to his deep interest in its objects and to his unfailing wisdom and courtesy. The Association has sustained a very great loss by his death. The Council also record with deep regret the death of the Marquess of Ailsa, who was an active member of the Council for many years.
The Council invited the Earl of Galloway to be Chairman and Lt.-Col. Sir J. D. Ramsay, Bt., of Bamff, to be Vice-Chairman of the Council. They record with pleasure that their invitations were accepted.
The affiliation of the following bodies is welcomed: Automobile Association, Cyclists’ Touring Club, Glasgow Tree Lovers’ Society, Royal Scottish Automobile Club.
The Council have met regularly each month (July, 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. Owing to restrictions on the use of paper the Report this year is necessarily very brief.
HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE HIGHLANDS
This subject was before the Council at most of its meetings during 1942, but it was not until December that it became a matter of urgent importance. Our last Report referred to the setting up by the Secretary of State for Scotland of a Committee, of which Lord Cooper was Chairman, to consider matters concerned with further developments in the use of water-power resources in Scotland for the generation of electricity. That Committee issued its Report in December, and the Council’s Hydro-Electric Committee immediately made a close study of the Report and drew up a detailed Memorandum setting forth its objections to many of the statements and recommendations contained in the Report. Before action could be taken on the Memorandum, however, the Government’s Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Bill was issued. This in turn was closely studied by the Council and by its Hydro-Electric Committee, and a Memorandum was prepared. This Memorandum was sent to the Secretary of State for Scotland, and copies were also sent to all the Scottish Members of Parliament- and to the Scottish Representative Peers; while a statément, based on the Memorandum, was issued to the Press. In this Memorandum it was stated that-
“The Council’s examination of the Cooper Report led them to the conclusion that it pointed to a state-sponsored exploitation of Highland water-power not less objectionable than that proposed in the many private Bills rejected by Parliament. Had the Bill confirmed the recommendations of the Cooper Committee the Council must have engaged once more in opposition, but their examination has satisfied them that the Bill contains promise of fulfilment of a programme for electric supply which may go far to meet the needs of the Highland people.”
The Memorandum pressed for certain amendments to the Bill, and these amendments, with others, were embodied later in letters sent by the Council to the Secretary of State. The principal amendments put forward urged that the Amenity Committee to be set up under the Bill should be consulted by the Hydro-Electric Board before the development scheme was drawn up, and that the development scheme should, like constructional schemes, be subject to veto by Parliament; that adequate provision should be made for the supply of electric light and power to individuals or groups of people resident in isolated areas; that the clause making it unlawful for anyone to put down a generating station of any kind with an output above 50 kilowatts except by permission of the Electricity Commissioners should be altered to permit of a higher limit; and that Glen Affric should be placed outside the activities of the Board. It was also urged that the Board should, before it began its detailed investigations for a development scheme, have some clear knowledge of the larger plans for Highland reconstruction which the various Committees appointed by the Secretary of State to deal with the subject might bring forward, and, further, that the problem of the social and economic reconstruction of the Highlands required for its effective solution the closest collaboration from the beginning of all the bodies concerned.
The Council has kept in close touch with the Standing Committee on National Parks of the Councils for the Preservation of Rural England and Wales, and has supported certain amendments put forward by that body and also by the Amenity Group of Members of Parliament. The Bill has now passed the Committee stage. The Council will watch closely further developments in both Houses of Parliament.
The Council would remind members that the policy of the Association was defined in 1939 as follows:-
“Their attitude towards hydro-electric developments in the Highlands is not negative, but essentially constructive. . . . Their attitude towards developments which are undoubtedly beneficial to the district concerned or desirable from a national point of view is directed to ensuring that any harm done to scenery and other amenities is as small as possible. But they claim the right to examine the evidence brought forward in support of any scheme and to form an opinion on its merits.”
NATIONAL PARKS
The Council are gratified that the initiative which they took in January 1942 (referred to in their last Annual Report) for the formation of a Scottish Council for National Parks was followed in June by such a Council being definitely constituted.The Council is an independent Association composed of representatives of constituent and affiliated Societies, of which there are at present thirty-three, covering a total membership of about 230,000 persons. A.P.R.S. is represented on the Council by six members. The Council held its first Annual General Meeting on 28th April 1943. Its first Annual Report states that an outline of proposals for the establishment of National Parks in Scotland was drawn up and approved, and was incorporated in a Memorandum presented to the Secretary of State for Scotland. A deputation in support of this Memorandum was received by the Secretary of State on 15th March 1943, and it is hoped that contact between the Council and the Departments of State may be maintained and developed when the Government’s planning schemes become more mature. The Council has established co-operation with the corresponding body for England and Wales. The office-bearers of the Council are:- President: The Hon. Lord Keith; Vice-President: Professor F. G. Baily; Treasurer: Mr John Bartholomew, all three being members of your Council. The Organising Secretary of the A.P.R.S. is Secretary of the Council.
GENERAL
The general activities of the Association have been continued whenever possible, and action has been taken in a number of cases concerning the preservation and improvement of amenities, but limitation of space prevents a description of this work.
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.
Statement of Accounts for the Year to 31st December 1942
[see pdf file]
Report to the Members of the Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland
We have examined the Books and Accounts of the Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland for the year ended 31t December 1942, and have obtained all the information and explanations we have required. We report that, in our opinion, the foregoing Balance Sheet is properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the state of the Association’s affairs according to the best of our information and the explanations given to us and as shown by the books of the Association.
FINANCES
Although the grant from the Carnegie Trust was reduced from £150 to £100, the expenditure has been reduced by £64 and the decrease in subscriptions is small, so our deficit for the year is much the same as before, £38 instead of £36, and actually it is less, for £10 of subscriptions for the year came in too late for inclusion in the year’s accounts. Members may again be reminded that if they guarantee to continue membership for seven years, the income tax that has been paid by them is refunded to the Association with no cost to them. This year the refund has produced £27 and there is opportunity for a large increase in this source of income. The Treasurer will gladly supply all information about the very simple procedure.
The Council record their deep appreciation of the generous assistance given by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust.
If undelivered return to
44 Queen Street, Edinburgh.
The Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland,
Association for the Preservation
of Rural Scotland
ANNUAL MEETING, 1943
Your presence will be welcome at the Annual Meeting of the Association to be held in the Royal Arch Hall, 75 Queen Street, Edinburgh, on Wednesday, 26th May, at 3.30 p.m.
The Annual Report of the Association, including a statement of finances, is printed overleaf.
The Right Hon. The Earl of Galloway will preside.
The Hon. Lord Keith, if able to be present, will speak on National Parks.
F. C. MEARS
Hon. Secretary