E.M.S.Kueeums 
September I6th. 1919 
Dear Cubitt# 
Thank you very much far your letter of Sep¬ 
tember 16th, covering your scheme of Scientific research for 
the forest Department# 
With much of it of course I am in no way 
concerned and am not competent to express an opinion# 
Commencing at paragraph 10 however# 1 think 
that the formation of a oontral scientific Institute at the 
present date ie an Utopian idea which would not work in practice 
« 
and which mould result m far loos work being turned out with a 
given expenditure than is at present the ease. It has not In 
praotloo worked in India, where to a large extent each depart¬ 
ment has its own specialist staff, Thsra would bo continual 
wrangling between departnonts as to prlorty of interacts. To IU( 
take the case of entomology alone, there is ample work hero for 
an Agricultural Entomologist, A forest Entomologist, and a 
. ’ . * * 
Systematic entomologist the work in each case being on different 
planes. If i this work was coamitted to a oontral institution, 
the Director of Agriculture for instance would not bo best 
pleased if ho was informed that an indent by him for an urgent 
piooo of work would have to wait while another roeearoh was 
being concluded for the forest Department, or rice versa. Tst 
this would inevitable happen in praetlee. 
nth paragraph II I am in agreement in 
theory; in praotlee it ie I think quite out of the question. 
As regards to your five points. 
(I) It may be taken as certain that there would be bitter 
opposition in Singapore to the project. 
(XI) There is not the slightest necessity for botanioal 
research as such to be connected with the upkeep of botanical 
gardens suoh as exists at Singapore, 
(III) I agree with your view. 
