Commissioner De Industries, Unemployment and Brain Drain-7

Burier's authority in the Industries Department extends to mining and geology about which his knowledge is close to zero. To create an impression among his superiors who are said to be bestowed with inferior intelligence, he gives preference to undertaking research. For this purpose he requires press clippings. He entrusts the task to a junior official who pastes these clippings on a paper and presents them to Burier the next day.

One day a low category clerical staff, Mr. Kirk comes with a clipping with a caption" Cooper in Asia". Burier who reads it as copper is very much excited at this news item. Without further verification, he asks his senior technical officer to visit the area. The official draws a travel plan and books the ticket for the journey in advance. Meanwhile a casual visitor drops in his office. Burier tells him about the new find and the prompt action he has initiated. Only when his friend points out that the press clipping has nothing to do with copper find and that it relates to the arrival of Mr. Cooper, a foreign diplomat, Burier realizes his folly.

He makes an earnest attempt to recall the official but the latter has already left. The official was keen to use the opportunity to be away from the monotony of office work and to do some sight seeing at public expense. Because it is a remote area not accessible by ordinary modes of transport, it takes one week to establish contact with him. By that time the official has utilized the funds taken as advance for the tour. He returns and Burier asks him for a report justifying the tour. He readily gives a description of the places he saw, the people he met and a finally a statement denying the copper find.