N.Z. And African Nationalism

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32007, 6 June 1969, Page 10

N.Z. And African Nationalism

When he read letters like that to the Leader of the British Opposition (Mr Heath) in “The Press” last Saturday and heard of people referring to Britain as “home” he felt that national consciousness had not developed very much in New Zealand, a former Christchurch man who is now an Anglican missionary working in Africa, the Rev. J. Osmers, told the Catholic Peace Fellowship last evening.

Among the states of Africa, the opposite was the case, he said.

Years ago persons tended to think of Africa as a place mainly of peace, under colonial administration. But today Africa tended to be thought of as a place of anarchy and lawlessness. In fact, there was also a great deal of largely unnoticed progress. Africa had changed with remarkable speed, and education was one of the main reasons for this, Mr Osmers Mid.

Before independence, many students, when they returned from overseas studies found they were nevertheless totally excluded from taking part in the administration of their country. They found that employment was not on merit as in the Western world, and they wanted these things changed. Lesotho, formerly Basutoland—the small independent

country where he worked—was still heavily subsidised by Britain, Mr Osmers Mid. One would never have gathered from the administrators before independence that there was any concern about the tremendous poverty of many of the people, and there was little or no constructive contact between the Africans and the European administrators.

There was no feeling of urgency that things should be changed and improved. But now the people expected progress, and some was being made. There was also progress in education. In Lesotho since independnce in 1966 the number of secondary schools had increased from seven to more than 100.

People were becoming aware of the need for indusdustry something the colonial administrators had not even considered. The African nations still needed a tremendous amount of help from other countries. However, the Africans were asking for this help on their own terms rather than on the terms of Europeans as in the past.