3.
8.
27
the support Government can give it together with a proper appreciation of the value of its work.
Value of an Independent Survey.
It is not intended to enumerate the "fors and againsts" of this matter. The "Statement re Forestry " under (2) should help to decide whether or not an independent survey is likely to be of value. The greatest factor, it is thought, in making such a survey is an understanding of local conditions and it is considered that this is only possible by living in the country for a time and by making a special study of such factors as are likely to affect the problem from a general point of view as well as from the specific one of forestry practices. From a personal knowledge of Malayan Forestry affairs it may be stated that there is little similarity between the problems with which the Forestry Departments of Malaya and Hong Kong respectively, are concerned. However, this is not meant to detract in any way from the value of an independent report on the economic aspect of local forestry operations as this would be informative even if it produced
a negative result.
(Sgd.) F. Flippance
Superintendent
Botanical and Forestry Department.
6th February, 1939.