XVII 
LABOUR 
*73 
properly housed and fed. That fines are not desir¬ 
able unless the fine 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. 
