FROM SUNNY RHODESIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1928, Page 11

FROM SUNNY RHODESIA.

EX-POLICE OFFICER.

mat settle nr hew Zealand

PROSPECTS OF RHODESIAN

TOBACCO.

Towering two or three inches above tlie heads of other tall passengers on the Maranja this morning was Mr. C. E. Ward, retired sergeant-major of the Southern Rhodesia Mounted Police, who, with Mrs. Ward, has come to New Zealand on a holiday. Mr. and Mrs. Ward will be the guests of Mr. Minton at Kunciman.

"It is possible that we may settle here," Mr. Ward told a pressman. "We have heard much of New Zealand's attractions from some of your people who have settled in Southern Rhodesia, 'where they are doing very well."

The territory of Southern Rhodesia is approximately three or four times larger than New Zealand, said Mr. Ward. For the most part it is sparsely settled, and the men who police the vast area have to undertake long and exhausting rides. Mr. Ward was eighteen years in the police force, and found the work intensely interesting, although he did not care to detail any of his adventures when questioned by the interviewer.

"There is a very bright future for the tobacco industry in Southern Rhodesia," he said. "The tobacco growers have been granted a preference of 2/ per lb, and the industry has made tremendous strides within the last five years. The Southern Rhodesian tobacco was spoken of in the highest terms at Wembley, and experts are of opinion that an enormous export trade will be developed as time goes on. One or two of the larger, plantation owners have already made small fortunes, and there is a lot of money to be won. Some New Zealanders have gone into the business. With a thousand acres, a man can do very well."

In all the vast area there were very few sheep, said Mr. Ward. Apart from tobacco growing, the principal occupation was ranching. There were conmrlerable herds of cattle, which did well, the climate and conditions being propitious. The Government was experimenting with sheep in order to And a suitable breed. Mr. Ward said that a young New Zealander, who often spoke of Auckland, had recently joined the police force in Southern Rhodesia His name was Hoddinott.