1 AUGUST 1931, Page 16

KENYA [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

a,—Mr. J. A. Watson, in a letter published on July 11th, takes grave exception to Professor Malinowski's comments on European production in Kenya, and in order to demonstrate the economic justification of this production quotes the figures of Lord Francis Scott giving the percentage increase of the wheat, maize, coffee, and sisal acreages under cultivation.

Surely these figures by themselves prove nothing: at all. No estimate of the actual increase of acreage can be made if only the percentage increase is given. Also the economic soundness of this production depends upon several other factors beside increase of acreage. There must be considered the average yield per acre, and, still more important, the whole cost of production—which must include the pro- portionate costs of -Government services. .

Nor is Lord Francis Scott's reference to the 1930 Kenya increase and the Uganda and Tanganyika decreases in domestic exports of any more value in demonstrating that production in Kenya is on a sounder basis than that of the neighbouring territories. Here the figures swing over from percentages to net differences ; they are in this-case more inipressive than

percentages. Professor Buell has suggested that the fairest test of real productivity is a comparison of the ratios between Governinent expenditure and exports ; and, bit.4ing his calculations on the 1925-24 figures; comes to the 'conclusion that Kenya' is the least produetKe of the three areas. I mention Professor Bud's analysis merely to show how opinions derived from data applicable to one particular year may cancel out opinions derived from those which apply to another particular year. I do not desire, as Lord Francis Scott apparently does, to push conclusions to a greater generality than the limited period to which the data refer seems to warrant.

Any investigation of the history of the demand for labour in Kenya shows that white production depended upon generous Government " bolstering " and upon the plentiful supply of cheap African labour. The main past activity of- the Convention of Associations has been the waging of a vigorous and effective campaign to obtain official sanction for a variety of devices designed to secure forced labour. -

Mr. Watson commends the Ormsby-Gore and the Hilton Young Reports. Both these Reports contain abundant direct evidence as to the settlers' reliance on bolstering. and also indirect evidence as to forced labour (e.g., Hilton Young, pp. 63, 72 and 131, Ormsby-Gore, pp. 155 and 156). Moreover the evidence of the settler witnesses before the 1913 Labour

Commission makes clear beyond any reasonable doubt that the settlers wanted not only cheap labour but forced labour. All, then, that Professor Malinowski has done is to state in a forthright manner what has always been the implicit basis of European cultivation in Kenya—the wasteful use of cheap labour ; and the evidence supporting him is both authoritative and convincing.—I am, Sir, &c., CHARLES W. BUCK BY.