Scientific Research and Tropical Development

Abstract

IN the three previous reports on the Colonies for which he was either wholly or partly responsible, Mr. Ormsby-Gore had perforce to deal at length with constitutional and political issues, questions of land tenure and other land problems, and labour problems. But the constitution of British Malaya is not at present a subject of controversy; the constitutional and political problems of Ceylon have been dealt with specifically by the Donoughmore Commission; and the constitution of Java, a Dutch Colony, is obviously not a matter upon which a British Minister should be expected to express opinions. Apparently there are no difficult land or labour problems in British Malaya and Ceylon. Consequently, in his report on British Malaya, Ceylon, and Java (Cmd. 3235, H.M. Stationery Office, 1928; 4s. 6d.), Mr. Ormsby-Gore is able to deal exhaustively with the subject nearest to his heart, the application of science to those public services upon which the physical health and the wealth and intellectual progress of communities depend.