NATIVE CHIEFS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1936, Page 6

NATIVE CHIEFS

COURSE IN AGRICULTURE.

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

CAPETOWN, November 7. - A very interesting experiment was begun recently at Domboshawa in Southern Rhodesia. A school has been opened where native chiefs’ are to be

taught important aspects of their duties and responsibilities, particularly foward the soil. if •'

The Rhodesian native is be,fore all things a farmer, but his traditional methods of agriculture are exceedingly wasteful. He cuts down the trees, leaves- the stumps in the ground,’ scratches the surface, plants his {‘seeds, and when the. ground is exhausted, -lflbvcs on, leaving erosion to coinplete the. ruin of the so.il. With his cattlei'lie- is. equally thriftless, thinking only of numbers and making no provision ..-for foQd in the lean seasons. 7 7. 'A.

The Government lias trained native agriculturists, <jOmirmmty demonstrators, ' anid ..supervisors, and has ' placed them in the various native reserves.

It is felt, however, that the • chiefs should understand the how, why, and wherefore of modern husbandry. To this end at course for chiefs has been introduced,’"and eight of them, each at-

tended by a counsellor, have assembled pt the Native College at Domboshawa. For the present the n limber is limited byr lack of accommodation. 7 —p—