SIR.—In Mr. Stephen Martin's letter, in your issue of November
7th, 1952, he states: "The facts today are that, whether it was intentional or not, these Ordinances (Crown Lands Ord. and N.L.T. Ord.) have resulted in the most fertile land being reserved for the Europeans and the least fertile for the natives." I would like to say that, should I have been offered as a soldier settler, or even prior to these Ordinances coming into force, land in either the Nyeri Kikuyu Reserve, Kiambu Kikuyu Reserve, South Nyanza (Kisu and Lou Reserves) or Kipsigis Reserve, I would have unhesitatingly taken it, in preference to most of the land that is known as the White Highlands. Mr. Martin, stating that the Africans got the least fertile, is quite incorrect. The richness of the soil and abundant rainfall make the areas I have exampled the envy of many a settler in this country. Today, in these reserves, erosion and bad farming practices have ruined to a certain extent the fertility, but I reiterate this was not so when the areas in question were made into Native Reserves. I might end this letter as did Mr. Martin: " In the interest of truth and justice these facts should be published."—Yours faithfully, R. F. DAVIDSON. Kiriurdtt Farm, 01 !Colon, Kenya.
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