A map illustrates the scope of Britain's colonial empire. A tour of the colonies of the British Empire follows, from a bustling Hong Kong street scene to the palm tree-lined streets of Fiji, through to canoe-paddling in Africa. Britain, we are told, "is responsible for guiding and developing the people of its colonies" of which there are around 60 million.

The work of the London-based Colonial Office and its various departments is described in detail. A worker discusses with the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the standard of nutrition for the people of West Africa needs improvement; a special committee advises on which areas should be awarded regional development grants. The Imperial institute is shown helping colonies improve the quality of their exports; the Bureau of Tropical Hygiene deals with the problem of the tsetse fly, a major contemporary health concern in the region.

East Africa is presented as a case study by which to illustrate the work of the Colonial Office. Inhabitants of the region toil under a scorching sun all day and in the evening engage in tribal dancing. Initiatives to develop the infrastructure of the region are outlined, one of which is the building of more bridges and installing electricity plants. Health clinics, medical research stations and maternity centres are constructed in an effort to improve medical services in the region.

The problem of malnutrition is attributed to the fact that East Africans "generally lack the right sorts of food... as a result many of them are not strong enough to resist disease'. It is prescribed that doctors work in close collaboration with agricultural officers towards improving nutritional standards. The film closes on a visionary note extolling the virtues of combining the new knowledge of the west with the existing native culture and traditions of East Africa.