BACK FROM AFRICA

Northern Advocate, 8 January 1936, Page 3

BACK FROM AFRICA

MR JUSTICE OSTLER [Per Press Association—Copyright. ] WELLINGTON. This Day. tylr Justice Ostler and Mrs Ostler returned yesterday from their African tour. They motored some 16.000 milesthrough South, Central and East Africa. The car had an enclosed seat, with a covered box body at the back, enabling them to take a complete camping outfit and native servants. The travellers visited Kruger National Park, which, they said, was one 1 of the greatest sights of the world. It was heavily stocked with every species of wild animal common to that part of South Africa. For many years the lions had to be kept down in order to allow other animals to increase; for the last nine years, however, no lions had been shot, and the theory of Colonel Stevenson Hamilton, warden of the park, that lions were necessary to maintain the balance of nature had been amply borne out. Kenya, said Mr Justice Ostler, contained some 17,000 settlers and had many thousands of acres of fertile land and also a good climate, and, in most places, ample rainfall. Nevertheless, the farmers were feeling the effects of the depression. At the present time the only crops which were paying were tea and sisal, which were limited in area.

“Kenya is grossly over-governed,” said his Honour. “The settlers have grown desperate and there are actually mutterings of rebellion. The Colonial Office recently sent a commission out to inquire into the method of cheapening the cost of government. This step has, for the time being, quietened the outcry, but if the cost of Government is not soon radically cut down there will be trouble with the settlers, who, in the meantime, are facing ruin.”