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on record a Ministerial policy ; on the other, they form a definite body 

 to which the Under-Secretary for State can refer such references on 

 technical matters as are received from Government and from which 

 he can obtain an authoritative technical opinion. 



The field presented by the cotton problem, however, in its entirety 

 extends beyond the scope of the Ministry of Agriculture. On the one 

 side there are the Domains. These form an enormous potential asset 

 for the development of a controlled seed supply. I have already shown 

 how it is that the Domains have failed to pass from a potential to a 

 practical asset in this respect, and how it is that the very successful 

 efforts are largely dissipated. A liaison requires to be effected between 

 the Domains and the Ministry by which such questions as the varieties 

 it is desirable that the Domains should grow, and the distribution of 

 the seed raised on the Domains' land, can be settled. On the other 

 side is the physical investigation, for the conduct of which the Physical 

 Service is relied on. It may also be remarked that the development 

 of that work may raise important questions of water supply which 

 will involve the Irrigation Department. At least three extra- 

 Ministerial bodies are thus concerned, and between them some liaison 

 is desirable. 



I am aware that my proposal for the establishment of a committee 

 within the Ministry will appear to undermine the position of the 

 Cotton Research Board as at present instituted. This it undoubtedly 

 does, but it indicates the desirability of a board occupying the same 

 position with respect to the Ministry as the existing Board, but with 

 somewhat different functions. By the decree instituting that Board 

 its function is denned as "to combine, co-ordinate, and extend scientific 

 researches with a view to assisting cultivators to improve the quality 

 and yield of cotton grown in Egypt." From the general aspect I have 

 already indicated the undesirability of separating research from practice 

 in the economic conditions prevalent in Egypt, and, from the particular 

 aspect, there appears to me the danger of a most undesirable duality of 

 control. As I conceive it, the Board should serve the function of 

 liaison agent between the Ministry of Agriculture and such extra- 

 Ministerial bodies as are concerned with the cotton problem. The 

 Ministerial note explaining the decree says : ' ' The Board will maintain 

 close touch with cotton growers, ginners, and spinners, so as to know 

 their ' needs '." I have dealt with this aspect elsewhere. It is the 

 work enumerated by me as economic. I have suggested that this be 

 performed by the Commercial Section, and provision has already been 

 made for it in the proposals I have already made. 



