RHODESIAN SCHEME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 84, 20 January 1930, Page 5

RHODESIAN SCHEME

DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

RAILWAY TO TANGANYIKA.

POTENTIALITIES OF COUNTRY

(United T»resr Association— Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) - LONDON', January 18. "If you see a successful man in South Africa, probably he is an Australian, a New Zealancler or a Scot said Mr A. J. Siggms, formerly of Wellington, who is visiting London attei 2? years in East and Central Africa, to an interviewer. ' Mr Sifgins went from Melbourne to the South African War and did not return to Australia. He is now visiting London in an endeavour to interest tlie Government in a scheme to build a trans-African railway, at a cost oi £15,000, connecting Walfish Bay with Mount Wara Day, Tanganyika Mr Sieeins states: "Britain has undertaken to nay £9,000,000 for the construction of "a bridge across the Zambesi in Portuguese territory. There is no reason why she cannot guarantee

debentures for'a trans-African railroad, which is important economically and politically. Rhodesia is a great countrv at present hemmed in by the Portueuese, whose attitde is unfriendly, and erdwing worse. Its growth is seriouslv retarded by lack of a proper putlet ' \ railway would open up millions of "miles of British country in Central \frica Tanganyika is suitable lor white settlement, and would provide work for natives, whose growing unrest presents a grave problem. It Khodesia could establish connection with Mount Wara, which is unknown, but

has a harbour as good as Sydney s, it would help trade to Australia, to which Rhodesia is turning since the breakdown of the Customs negotiations with South Africa. The country which +he proposed railway would traverse is healthv and suitable for whites. It is wrong' to imasine Central Africa is a feverM-idden, inhospitable jungle, given over to wild beasts. The future prosperitv of the Emoire is not bound up in wild schemes of big business to make Britain the manufacturing centre of the Empire, but in building up the Dominions."