xvii LABOUR 173 



properly housed and fed. That fines are not desir- 

 able unless the tine imposed on a delinquent is handed 

 over to the other labourers. That repeated beatings 

 have a bad effect, but that when it becomes necessary 

 the beating imposed shall be thorough. I am well 

 aware that this view is not popular at home, but am 

 personally convinced that for certain crimes, such as 

 lying, petty stealing and more especially cruelty to 

 children or animals, the whip is the best and kindest 

 preventive and cure, and that the native labour should 

 participate to some extent in a successful crop. A 

 plan has been adopted by Messrs. Swift and Ruther- 

 ford, of Punda-nulia, and by their neighbours, Sisal, 

 Ltd., which has much to recommend it. The white 

 employer breaks up and thoroughly cultivates a field. 

 He then supplies natives with seed, which they plant, 

 keep clean, and reap. The employer then buys back 

 the crop at a price agreed. The advantage to the 

 employer is that he is saved the supervision of gangs 

 of labourers. The advantage to the native is that he 

 participates in the fruits of his successful work. The 

 disadvantage to both is that the temptation to steal the 

 crop and sell it for its full value elsewhere is unduly 

 great. 



Taking the labour question as a whole, I believe 

 that, though undoubtedly the Protectorate has certainly 

 both trials to go through and difficulties to overcome 

 in the immediate future, there is no part of Africa in 

 which the ultimate outlook is better or more assured. 



