Science in Public Affairs 



there is the Royal Colonial Institute, which has 

 the finest colonial library in the Empire, and is 

 the recognised place of meeting for colonials 

 when they are in London. It publishes papers 

 of exceptional interest by colonial administrators 

 and others who are able to speak authoritatively 

 upon Imperial questions. In the latest volume 

 of the proceedings will be found addresses by 

 Dr. G. R. Parkin, upon the Rhodes scholarships ; 

 Sir Charles Bruce, upon the Crown Colonies ; Sir 

 Frederick Pollock, upon Imperial Organisation ; 

 and Mr. Alleyne Ireland, upon the British Empire 

 in the Far East. 



Coming now to the second branch of the subject, 

 the extent to which the self-governing colonies 

 are alive to the value of scientific discoveries, the 

 writer is confronted by a difficulty by which he 

 must confess himself to have been beaten. The 

 scheme of this book is critical. Shortcomings are 

 to be exposed, and remedies for them are to be 

 suggested. But criticism is unfair unless credit 

 is also given for that which is praiseworthy. If 

 that be so, the writer may not criticise because 

 he has not space in which to describe fully what 

 is being done at the present time. Take, for 

 instance, the application of science to primary 

 production. There is scarcely a colony in the 

 group under consideration that has not estab- 

 lished experimental farms at which instruction is 

 given in the general theory and practice of agri- 

 culture, fruit-growing, and stock-raising. Or take, 

 again, University education. In one or other of 



142 



