VISITOR FROM KENYA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 562, 15 January 1929, Page 10

VISITOR FROM KENYA

PROSPEROUS AND PROGRESSIVE COLONY NEW ZEALANDERS DO WELL THERE During the past few years Kenya Colony, in East Africa, has become one of the most talked-of places in the world. This has been due principally to the fact that it has been so frequently mentioned in the British Parliament, according to the Hon. G. V. Maxwell, M.L.C., and Chief Native Commissioner of Kenya, who arrived this morning by the Marama from Sydney. Mr. Maxwell- has held his present position in Kenya for seven years. Before that he spent 22 years as a Government official in Fiji. He has come to Auckland to see his family and enjoy a holiday. Mr. Maxwell says that there are 30 different tribes of natives in Kenya. In a sense one cannot call them tribes, he says; they are really different people and there is no more affinity between them than there is between an Italian and a Russian. Kenya Colony, said Mr. Maxwell, has obtained an exceptionally fine type of English settler. The highland country has been settled by the British, many of whom have done exceptionally well and have built most beautiful homes for themselves. “Kenya will go ahead,” said Mr. Maxweil. “The principal products for export are coffee, sisal (hemp) and maize. The Government has a settled policy regarding the natives, who are being encouraged to work for wages and to develop their own reserves. This has been successful in every way. The natives have never been more contented.” Mr. Maxwell mentioned that several New Zealanders were doing extremely well in Kenya. One of them is Colonel Griffiths, C.M.G., who is farming there. Flying is making good progress in the Colony and an aero club has been formed. When he left an air service was being organised between Kisumu, in Kenya, and Khartoum for the purpose of carrying mails. After a long holiday, which will be spent principally in New Zealand, Mr. Maxwell will return to his duties in Kenya.