News and Views

Abstract

WE have referred from time to time in these columns to the importance of scientific research in the development of the British Empire overseas and to the work in this connexion of Mr. L. S. Amery and Mr. W. Ormsby-Gore, Secretary and Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies respectively in the recent Conservative Government. That there is to be continuity of effort and to some extent of policy by the present Government appears probable from the speech made by Mr. J. H. Thomas in the House of Commons on July 12 last, in moving a resolution, which was agreed to, “authorising the Treasury, on the recommendation of a Committee to be appointed by the Secretary of State, to make advances, either by way of grant or by way of loan, to the Governments of certain Colonies, territories under his Majestys protection, and mandated territories, for the purpose of aiding and developing agriculture and industry in the Colonies or territories and thereby promoting commerce with or industry in the United Kingdom”. The resolution authorises the annual payment of not more than one million pounds, and Mr. Thomas has in mind a small but active committee to allocate the grants. An unexpended residue in any year will not be available in the succeeding year. Mr. Thomas thinks that speeding up colonial development will provide much useful work in Great Britain; indeed, the scheme is part of his plan for dealing with unemployment generally.