Botanic Gardens, Singapore,16.9.01 
Sir, 
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In reply to the request of His, Excellencey, I have much 
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pleasure in stating what in my opinion is the best way of utilizing 
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the splendid resources for gaining technical information,which the 
Imperial Institute offers. There can be no doubt that in such an im¬ 
portant .Commercial centre as Singapore the advantages offered by the 
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Imperial Institute, would be of the very greatest use.When regard is 
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had to the nature of the trade product comprising as they do such thin 
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as Pepper,gambir, Sago,Nutmegs,spices,oils,dyes,fibres,rubbers,guttas,e 
now I believe I am right in saying that in each and every * instance 
those products are sent home,without any regard^ to their chemical 
.purity,and very little regard for the possibilities of their physical 
improvement. True their is a certain trude standard,which governs the 
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buying,but what is that standard? it is of a necessity a vague,loose 
and at best an empirical one,consisting of the looks,feel,smell etc of 
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the article. Now these coarse tests it cannot be denied have in the 
.past done wonderfully well,but in these days of keen competition and w 
where our trade rivals are availing themselves of every advantage that 
scientific and technical aid can give it behoves us to see to it that 
we .too are equipped for the competition with up to date information. 
Such an advantage is offered by the Imperial Institute and it would ee 
seem that the time has come for giving practical effect to the efforts 
of that Institute for securing those advantages. Now to do this will 
involve a certain about of trouble for it means a party of the ways 
the casting off of the old methods of rule of thumb,and taking on the 
newer of exact scientific determinations. Nor can this be done easily 
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or rapidly the obstacles to be encountered are many and grevious,and i 
it must be so wfyere the native element forms such a large factor in 
the case. It is the native who grows,collects,or brings in the majorit 
of-the things exported,and it is he who must be gradually taught me¬ 
thods of improvement,but it is first requesite that the buyer ,the mer 
-chant be first educated,and that I think can best be done by the es- 
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tablishment of what might be termed a "Commercial Museum 11 it could if 
necessary be in connection with the Chamber of Commerce,or not ,but in 
any case,it should be in the closest possible connection with the 
Imperial Institute,in fact a sort of duplicate on a scale commensurate 
with local requirements. The duties of such a museum,would be to con- 
cern itself with every information concerning the trade Products of 
