TRACKLESS WASTES OF CONGO NOW PIERCED BY MOTOR ROADS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6843, 22 February 1929, Page 11

TRACKLESS WASTES OF CONGO NOW PIERCED BY MOTOR ROADS

The once trackless waste of Ruanda Urundi, in the Belgian Congo, is now penetrated by 1300 kilometers of good carriage roads, 1000 kilometers 'of roads on which motorcycles can travel, and 800 kilometers of native routes for bicycles, declared Hallwick dc Heutsch in describing the ' operations of this Belgian Mandate before the Mandates Commission recently. Such improvements, said M. de- Heutsch, greatly facilitate the growing of native produce, of which , cotton has become the most important crop. The natives are being educated to take a share, in the administration of the local councils. Mr. Werth, explaining labour conditions in Southwest Africa (former German colony) and the development of port facilities at Walfish Bay, on which £600,000 has been spent, said trains now run day and night in this mandated area, with transport rates i 6 per cent, lower .than before tho war, when the Germans ran the railways. Tho Government of the Union of South Africa had provided tho rolling Stock. The natives who have boon given reserves, appear to be more contented, while the former German settlers, who run their own local affairs, have nothing to complain of. Natives Learn Self-Government. 'Sir Ransford Slater Governor of tho Gold Coast, described how British Togoland, formerly a .German colony, had now been linked up With the Gold Coast by a new Toad and bridge, greatly facilitating the transport of goods. Following British .traditions, the natives arc being gradually trained to take part in the management of then own affairs. ... , . E. J. Arnett, the British resident in the Cameroons, also gave a cheerful picture of this former German area. He was cross-examined about -he con ditious of labour in connexion with the development of plantations, forced labour must not be used lor private pro Yield in Irafc.

H D Bourdillon, reporting progress in Irak, said the country is showing astonishing results in its economic development, Its oil-bearing districts ore expected to yield an increasing reof roads, while 120 miles of new railways have been constructed; M° rcovcr > a magnificent .automobile route for traversing the desert is being planned by privato enterprise, with the assistance of tho Government.