Rhodesia
Sir,—Perhaps Mr T. M. Ryan had not read my second letter (June 28), else it seems he knows- more about Rhodesia than he does about making fair comment. After imputing ignorance to me, he says nothing that I factually disagree with. Given the fluidity of pre-European land use, and tribal mobility under various pressures, it still makes sense to say that the Matabele have a prior, and better traditional claim to Rhodesia than the whites and the Bantu to most of South Africa although the full weight, of their southward migration was only felt after the whites had arrived. Despite this, the basic African demand is for no more than an equal share in the productivity of the at present white-controlled areas. The Europeans have generally assisted native population increase when its labour-power could be profitably harnessed, and its decrease when the native society has proved too primitive or inflexible for such usefulness. This is the obvious explanation behind Mr Ryan’s figures.— Yours, etc, B. P. LILBURN. July 4, 1969.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19690705.2.84.6
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 12
Word Count
171Rhodesia Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 12
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.