END OF FEDERATION
SIR,—Forgive my lateness, but the Spectator takes some time to arrive here. The article, 'Dying at the Falls,' in the Spectator on July 5 was biased and mis- represented and apparently written on the basis of preconceived ideas without investigation and with only a slight knowledge of the subject. Investigation shows that Lord Malvern has had no say at all in Federal affairs since 1955 and that post offices in Northern Rhodesia have been multi-racial for years and in Southern Rhodesia since 1960.
'The Federal Government prevented social advance' and failed to build 'a non-racial State'! How does Mr. Franklin account for the facts that the Federation has the second highest rate in Africa for public services; that there arc extensive free medical and educational facilities; that cafés, hotels, cine- mas, sports grounds, swimming baths, shops, etc., are almost all multi-racial?
'Economic advance has been retarded' and yet Federal Africans have the second highest wage rate in Africa; a minimum wage Act, trade unions with complete freedom to voice all demands and grievances and a taxation rate of only £2 annually for each working adult. 'A rearguard action is pursued against political advance;' but there are Africans in the Federal and Territorial Parliaments, and in white-dominated Southern Rhodesia nothing has stopped an African with sufficient educational qualifications from voting since 1923.
I am well aware of the fact that the Federation is far from perfect, but perfection is a state never reached by any government, as the British _people are well aware. However, I should like to point out that the neglect in which our Federation was nurtured produced Kariba, great social advance, advance in communications, a flourishing economy and work for many thousands of people. The apathy which Mr. Franklin seems to feel for its death is not shared by the thousands, both African and European, who will suffer by its dissolution.
Unlike the other African States, all sections of the population, and not just the oligarchy of demagogues, benefited by Federation. I wonder just how great the newly emergent dictatorships deserve to be.
Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia
Al ISON MARSDEN
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