54 
4. If, as suggested, the Government are to provide factories and 
machinery for dealing with their various produce, then the Govern- 
ment must feel sure the cultivators can supply regular and sufficient 
quantities to enable such establishments to maintain themselves and 
I have the gravest doubts as to such being the case unless the land 
is cultivated and kept up at a high standard. 
5. The question then naturally arises can any inducement be 
offered by Government to attract the n ;tive inhabitants and make 
it worth their while to take up tracts of land and really cultivate 
them by the best methods. 
6. 1 am of opinion that it is possible, though of course at some 
cost to Government, but this need not, seeing the many advantages 
that may afterwards accrue, be necessarily taken into serious account. 
7. My suggestions are these — viz. 
1st. The land for a certain period of years would be given 
at a very low or nominal rent ; 
2nd. All the plants and seeds required for the various cul- 
tivation be supplied by Government to the natives 
free of cost ; 
3rd. All the heavier drainage be paid for by the Govern- 
men t ; 
4th. The market price of their produce guaranteed them 
by the Government. 
As against this the natives would be liable to supervision and be 
obliged to keep the lands thoroughly cultivated. 
8. Such a scheme might be started on a comparatively small 
scale and increased and developed if the results prove satisfactory. 
9. My whole contention is that until Government is fully satis- 
fied that the native inhabitants will really take a true interest in the 
proper cultivation of the land, which they might be induced to do 
by giving them exceptionally favourable and easy terms (and this, 
I consider, is well worthy of trial), it would not be of any advan- 
tage to Government to afford the financial assistance that the pro- 
posals of Mr. Arden might require ; on the other hand, if good 
proof is forthcoming that the native inhabitants would fulfil their 
part of the bargain re culture, then 1 believe the suggestions advo- 
cated might be carried into effect with good profit ible results to all 
concerned. 
I have, etc., 
L. C. BROWN, 
Inspector of Coconut Trees , f'.M.S. 
The Resident-General, K.M.S. 
