WEST AFRICAN COLONIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23599, 8 September 1938, Page 8

WEST AFRICAN COLONIES

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY LEVERHULME TRUST GRANT (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON. Aug. 5. The trustees of the Leverhulme Trust have invited four members of Parliament to conduct an inquiry in West Africa. The members are to have the assistance of technical experts. The invitation has been accepted by Colonel J. Sandeman Allen (Birkenhead West). Mr C. G. Ammon (Camberwell North), Mr E. Clement Davies, K.C. (Montgomery), and Dr L. Haden Guest (Islington North). The technical experts are: Dr E. M. Crowther. D.Sc., F.I.C. (head of the Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Experiment Station, Harpenden), Lieutenant-colonel A. G. Doherty, F.R.C.V.S. (secretary of the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, Dublin), and Mr H, C. Sampson, B.Sc. (economic botanist. Kew). Mr E. P. Haslam, B.A. (Oxon.). M.A. (N.Z.), will also act as secretary. Mr Haslam belongs to Auckland and was one of the three Rhodes Scholars from New Zealand for 1934. He went to Balliol. ■ , The commission proposes to leave for Dakar, in French Senegal, on October 5. It will be absent from this country until after the New Year. The Leverhulme Trust was formed to make grants from money set apart by the late Lord Leverhulme in his will to assist research work of all kinds.. The commission will investigate, study and report on the West African colonies generally, the inter-relation-ship between the Government, its officials, the traders and the natives, the status and standard of life of the native population and improvement thereof, the production of food and other materials and the increase thereof, and in particular certain main problems in respect of the development of agricultural, pastoral and foresty resources, namely:—

CROPS AND EXPORTS Examination of the possibilities of mixed farming where suitable, the rotation of crops, the use of fertilisers, and the cultivation of a more varied range of foods for consumption by the native farmers and their herds. The possibilities of cultivation by plough and tractor and the use of machines. A study of the main export crops, which will include oil-palms, cocoa, groundnuts and cotton, so as to permit of securing the most valuable varieties of plants, and to ensure that the best methods are adopted to secure progressive yields, and to combat di56RS6i An examination of methods of preparing crops for export, their despatch to the consuming markets, and any improvements thereof. A survey of the present position of forest exploitation, conservation of forest wealth, and, afforestation. A study of animai industries and the possibility of their extension, both by the improvement of breeds and by the utilisation of the products. SOIL IMPROVEMENT General study of soil conditions, including the questions of soil deterioration by methods of cultivation or by erosion and desert invasion, soil Improvement by better methods,of cultivation. The possibility of introducing new crops, including fruits, to West Africa, which might add to the resources; and also to increase the range of fruit and vegetables which, while not commercially profitable, might add to the amenities. The present system of land tenure and its effect on agricultural development with a view to indicating what system is likely to be the most advantageous for the fullest development of the inhabitants and the land. In connection with all these problems the Trust consider it would be desirable to study the manner in which they have been approached or treated in French Tropical Africa, the Mandated Territories, and other countries enjoying similar climatic conditions.