LIFE IN ZANZIBAR

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 71, 17 December 1937, Page 11

LIFE IN ZANZIBAR

Sir Richard Rankine On Visit To Dominion

MANY USES FOR CLOVES

“It may surprise you to know that cloves are the chief export qf Zanzibar,” said Sir Richard Rankine, K.C.M.G., who recently retired from the Colonial Service, and who arrived at Wellington yesterday in the Rangitane from London. His last post was as British Resident in Zanzibar, and he is at present in New Zealand on holiday for about 10 weeks before returning to England. “Cloves form about 80 per cent, of the protectorate’s exports and they are not used only fo r apple pies,” he said. "Clove oil absorbs much of the product, and in India there is a good market, as cloves are widely used there as a condiment.

"In Java a new industry has developed in which they are being used in the manufacture of cigarettes. The cigarettes are made of dark tobacco, and are smoked mainly by the natives. "Clove oil is now being made in Zanzibar itself, and this is used in toothpastes and other medicinal products. It has been used to a considerable extent in the past in the making of chocolate, but it has been superseded recently by a synthetic product. “The clove industry has undergone an extensive reorganisation in recent years and the industry is progressing rapidly.” The income derived by tbe protectorate in 1935 from cloves was £474,513.

Sir Richard was in the Colonial Service for more than 40 years and his first post was in Fiji in 1894. He has visited the Dominion several times, but has not been here since 1922. During his years of service he occupied many posts in various parts of the Empire, among them being the Chief Secretaryship of Nyassaland, 1920, where he acted as Governor in 1921. 1923, 1921 i and 1926. He was Chief Secretary the Government of Uganda, 1927-29 and he was appointed British Resident of Zanzibar in 1930. The Colonial Service is still as attractive to young men as it ever was said Sir Richard, and the Colonial O‘‘flee are endeavouring to get good men to join. The standard is high and good academic and general qualifications are essential. There is no friction ahiong the natives in Zanzibar, and Sir Richard expressed a high opinion of the Arab ruler, Sultan Sir Khalifa bin Haruh, D.C.M.G., G.B.E. "Though armament work is progressing steadily in England there is no real apprehension among the people generally,” he said. “I am not prepared to give an opinion on the work being done, but it is being done quietly and well.”

Sir Richard is a keen cricket enthusiast and his opinion of the New Zealanders in England was that they “just missed” Test standards, though he was particularly impressed with the performances of Maloney and Roberts at Lord’s during the first Test. Sir Richard is accompanied by Lady Rankine, and they are going north to-, day. Later they are to visit Oamaru for some weeks, and they plan to be back in England in April.