AFRICA'S BLACK RACES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 3 December 1927, Page 3

AFRICA'S BLACK RACES

"NO DANGER TO BE FEARED" STANDARD OF CIVILISATION MEDICAL MISSIONARY'S VIEWS "There is no 'danger.to be feared from the black races of Africa. We are teaching them Clvistianity, and it is ma'inly through this channel that wo lwpe" the white and black populations will . together develop the great-Continent.us a nation." This is tho opinion of Di\ H. E. Wareham, a Congregationalist, who has worked as p. medical missionary in Rfioclesia for the past 25 years, and who was a passenger by the Marama from

Sydney. Dr. Wareham, who is attached to the London. Missionary Society, will make an extensive torn* of tho Dominion with a view to stimulating interest in the society's work. • • •• Although Dr. Wareham has concentrated his activities in Northern Rhodesia, where up until now he has been tho" .only medical missionary, he lias, travelled extensively on the Continent, and lias been a close student of African affairs, both political and social. He said that tho London Missionary Society recently celebrated the jubilco of its establishment in Rhodesia. Tho work of the society was largely educational, and thoy had schools attended by somo 13,000 nativo children. 'There had been a great change recently when tho ad-

ministration, realising tho value of tho work, stepped in. and was now assisting them with grants. "Wo find that the natives are intensely cagerto learn," .stated Dr. Wareham. "They are given, more of ai\ industrial .training. They are taught carpentering, building, blaeksmilhing, and aro given a wide cOur.NO in agriculture. At present huridrdds.of the blacks migrate to the -Belgian Congo and elsewhere to seek work. Wc want.'to prevent this alid hope to secure Government assistance in finding a market for their agricultural products." They desired to avoid Europcanising the blacks, and in Africa, today tho proportion of.blacks who aped the white man was small. Those who worked in mines and in the cities dressed in European clothes, and had . lost much of their native charm, but the majority were essentially native. NOT A DUMPING GROUND "People will not get out of .their minds that Africa is the dumping ground for white men in search of fortunes," continued the visitor. "It must be' remembered that thousands go there for a living. Africa must be governed for the benefit of the blacks, and they must help to build it up." Dr. Wareiham said it was the tradition of the Dutch to oppress the blacks, but the more educated among them now

realised that this was tho wrong policy. "Tho recent colour bar legislation introduced by the Nationalist Party will do much harm," proceeded Dr. Wareham. "The South African party held that it was not a fair step, and 1 quite agree. It is quite easy to seo wiliy the..measure was introduced, and to sympathise to an extent with the motive behind it all. The. white man is thinking of his children and the chances of their livelihood, firmly believing that tho working together of tho white and black peoples will lower the standard of civilisation. On tho other hand, wo earnestly boliove that by showing tho black races the light of Christianity and teaching them tho best way to became useful citizens wc are raising the standard of civilisation." LARGE DEATH RATE In addition, to his medical work, Dr. Wareham has also taken an activo part in church and educational activities. Ono of the matters concerning them was the large death rate among the uativca brought about by prevontible diseases. The only way to remedy this appeared to be in educating the blacks to look after themselves, with tho co-opsration of the administration. In spite of everything, however, the birth rate was exceeding the death rate. When Dr. Wareham settled in Rhodesia 25 years ago, native wars and raiding had come to an end, and during his residence there wild animals had given him more concern from tho danger point of view than the blacks. He stated the society was in need of moro missionaries and funds. He was hopeful tlliat he would get considerable support in the Dominion. The result of his appeal in Australia had been very encouraging.