BECHUANALAND (PROTECTORATE)

BECHUANALAND (PROTECTORATE)- & ,' - . , -,-,. /MINUTESOF THETWENTY-NINTH SESSIONOF THEAFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILHELD UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OFHis Honour, ANTHONY SILLERY, Esquire, B.A., C.V.O. RESIDENTCOMMISSIONER OF THE BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE ATMAFEKING19th to 28th AUGUST, 1948N"

(i)MINUTESof theT WE N T Y - N I.N T HSESSIONof theBECHUANALANDPROTECTORATE AFRICAN ADVISORYheld atMAFEKING19th to 28th August, 1948..... 000 .. . . ,,PRESIDENTHIS HONOUR, ANTHONY SILLERY, ESQUIRE, B.A., C.V.O., ResidentCommissioner.MEiMiBERSBAKWENA: Kgosi Kgari Sechele II, Councillors Martin Seboni,Thukhwi Selwe and SankalQb& Matlhabaphiri.BANG4AKETSE: BATAVIANA:BAIVIALETE; BAMANGWATO:1AKGATLA:BATLOKWA: BAROLONG:FRANCISTOWN: KGALAGADI:Kgosi Bathoen II, O.B.E., Councillors Mooketsi K. Gaseitsiwe, Luka S. Modisiand Richard M.Bome.

Mohumagadi E.P. Moremi III, Councillors Naledi Mogalakwe and BatsileLempadi.Kgosi Mokgosi III, Councillors K.M. Ikaneng and M.A. Moagi.Kgosi Tshekedi Khama, Councillors Molwa M. Sekgoma, M.B.E., Gabolebye D.Marobele, Goareng S. Mosinyi, Olweleng 0. Ntsaga, Basupi B.Mooketsi,Phofhuetsile P. Kgwatalala and Moses M. Mengwe.Kgosi Molefi Pilane, Councillors Sefhako Pilane and Mothi Pilane.Councillors.Kema Gaborone, Kesebonye Seitshiro and Moyi 1agetse.Councillors Lowanika Montshiwa, Garlicks Masibi and Stephen Phetlhu.Sub-Chiefs Henry Nakedi and Bakwadi Habangaan.Headmen Moapare Mosiiwa and Seetelo Toto.---000---650'10COUNCIL

(ii)THE FOLLOWING HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVEOFFICERS WERE ALSO PRESENT:G.E. Nettleton, Esq., C. A.W. Walters, Esq., O.B. Dr. M.L. Freedman, M.B.,H. Jowitt, Esq., C.Ii.G.,H.E.D., B.A., B. of E 'J.G. Brind, Esq., O.B.E.M.Sc. (Hon.), B.E.E.C.S. Dawe, Esq., M.R.C F.H. Bosman, Esq., M.Sc.(Kansas), S.A.C., B.S(Univ.S.A.)Capt. M.R.D. Langley, M. V.F. Ellenberger, Esq., S.V. Lawrenson, Esq. R.B.M.Sullivan, Esq. P.G. Batho, Esq. R.A.R. Bent, Esq. A.J.T.M. MacRae, Esq. N.B.Rutherford, Esq. E.H. Midgley, Esq.F.A.H.C.Marr, I.S.O. Foulger, Esq.J.M.A. Fannin, Esq. A.N.W. Matthews, Esq. P_ Cardross Grant, Esq. T.G. Moore,Esq. C.E. Clark, Esq. D.A.T. Atkins, Esq.P.E. Going. Esq.B.E.E.Ch.B.M. Ed., D.F.C..V.S.Agric.*c.Agr.Deputy Resident Commissioner and Government Secretary. Financial Secretary.Acting Director of Medical Services.Director of Education. Director of Public Works. Principal Veterinary Officer.Principal Agricultural Officer.V.0. Acting Commissioner of Police.

I.S.O. District Commissioner.District Commissioner,Gaberones.District Commissioner, LobatsiDistrict Commissioner, Kanye.District Commissioner,Francistown.District Commissioner,Mochudi.District Commissioner,Molepolole.District Commissioner,Francistown.District Commissioner, Ghanzi.District Commissioner,Gaberones.Assistant DistrictCommissioner, Serowe.First Assistant Secretary.Assistant SecretaryAssistant District Commissioner, Kasane.Assistant District Commissioner, Maun.Assistant District Commissioner, Tshabong.Controller of Stores.i

(iii)AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL 29TH SESSION(19th August, 1948.)A GE ND AItems Subject:1. Abolition of barter system except betweennatives. (8965)2. Stock Improvement. (7656/3)3. Cattle Industry- (7656/3)4. Future policy of cattle improvement.(7656M35. Loans to Native Administrations for construction of cattle dipping tanks.(142/1)6. Co-operation between Veterinary Departmentand Native Authorities.7. Distinctive branding of stock along theborder. (5043/1)8. Agricultural Demonstrators. (523/11)9. Grain Storage. (9093)

10. Removal of African traders from the scope of the Credit Sales to NativesProclamation (No.35 of 1932). (2760/4)11. Proposed increase in out-patients; fees.(8660/1)12. Contributions by Native Treasuries towards cost of maintenance of mentalpatients.(2944)13. Teacher Training*Centre. (8505) 14. Definition of motor Vehicle plyingfor hire. (3208)15. Inter-district tax collections. (7989) 16. Capital expenditure on tribalbuildings.(8944)17. Divorce proceedings. (7022) 18. Marriage by special licence. (7028/1) 19.Influence of agitators on Bechuana working on the Rand Gold hines. (6690)20. National song of prayer - suitability of "Kgosi tshegofhatsa Afrika". (5987)21. Disposal of fines in kind in Native Courts. (7531/4)22./...Proposed by:Government. Government. Bakwena. Bangwaketse. Bamalete. Bakwena.Government. Government. Government. Government. Government. Government.Bakgatla. Government. Bakwena. Bangwaketse. Government. Bakwena.Bamalete. Bamalete. Bamalete.

(iv)It em: Subject : i22. Telegraphic communications. (2633/4) 23. Colour Bar. (4340) 24.Construction of bridges. 25. Grocery Licences. (8069/13) 26. Voluntarycontributions by native communities for local projects. (6694)27. Registration of xfrican tax-payers at age of 18 years. (4971/1)26. Assistance to Tribal Administrations to obtain goods in bond. (1146)29. Appointment to Council of representative of the Basubia. (4145)30. Purchase of uniforms through Government for tribal employees. (1146)31. Orders by Native Courts for the taking of fingerprints. (2531/2) 32.Graded taxation. (4947)Proposed by:Bakwena. Bakwena. Bakwena. Bakwena. Government. Government.Bangwaketse. Government. Bangwaketse. Government.. Government.

(v )NOTE FOR EUROPEAN / AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item No.1.BARTERIn October last year the Union Government promulgated a proclamation whichmade it an offence to tender any credit note, token, goods, etcetera to a Native in

exchange for any livestock or produce offered for sale. The proclamation doesnot apply to transactions between native and native except where one of theparties is the holder of a trading licence. A copy of the proclamation is attachedto this note.2. All District Commissioners have been consulted on the proposal that a similarenactment should be introduced in the Bechuanaland Protectorate and the greatmajority have expressed themselves in favour of the proposal.3. Miost District Commissioners consider that the system under which a trader,in exchange for livestock or produce, gives the seller a token which is good for acertain value of merchandise at the trader's own store only, is an evil whichshould be abolished, although one District Commissioner expressed the view thatif the transaction were conducted on a cash basis the seller might receive lessvalue for his produce. Where the token systam is employed, the amount usuallydoes not exceed the price of an ox and it is not considered that that is too large asum to be paid in cash or that traders would suffer hardship in having to keep asupply of cash available for this purpose.4. There appears to be no good reason for disturbing thebarter system between natives which has been long established and is wellunderstood.April, 1948.No. 8965.(Annexure i)

No.305, 1947. (vi) (Annexure i)C 0 P YPROHIBITION OF BARTER SYSTEIi OF TRADE IN NATIVE hREAS.Whereas it is expedient to prohibit the continuance of the system of tradepractised in Native Areas, commonly referred to as the barter system, under whichcredit notes, tokens or other non-negotiable instruments, or goods, wares,merchandise or livestock are given by traders and others to Natives in payment ofor in exchange for livestock and produce offered for sale by Natives;Now, therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in me(a) by law, in respect of the area known as the Transkeian Territories; and(b) by sub-section (1) of section twenty-five of the Native Administration Act1927 (Act No.38 of 1927), read in conjunction with section twenty-one of theNative Trust and Land Act, 1936 (act No.18 of 1936) in respect of any area orland referred to in the said sections of the said Acts, I do hereby declare tfiat thefollowing provisions shall take effect, and have the force of law in such areas andon such land as is referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof :1. (1) Any personwho gives or tenders any credit note, token, goods, wares, merchandise, livestock,or instrument, other than cash or a negotiable instrument, in payment of or inexchange for any livestock or produce offered to him for sale by any Native, shallbe guilty of an offence, and shall be liable, upon conviction, to a fine notexceeding £25 or, in default of payment to imprisonment for a period notexceeding three months.

(2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply in respect of any transactionbetween hative and hative, except if any Native, who is a contracting party to suchtransaction, is the holder of a licence, issued under the Licences ConsolidationAct, 1925 (Act No.32 of 1925) or the provisions of Proclamation No.244 of 1934,in respect of any trade, business or calling, or any amendment thereof.For the purposes of this Proclamation"Livestock" includes cattle, sheep, horses, mules, donkeys, goats, pigs andpoultry."Produce" includes maize, kaffir corn, wheat or any other grain, wool and allproducts of farming operations; and "native" shall have the meaning assigned tothe term by section forty-nine of the Native Trust and Land Act, 1936.GOD SAVE THE KING.Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the Union of South Africa at Pretoriathis Thirteenth day of October, One thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-seven.G.BRAND VAN ZYL.Governor-General.By Command of His Excellency the GovernorGeneral- in-Council.J.G.N.STRAUSS.

No.7656/3. (Annexure ii)(vii)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIlItem 2.Livestock Improvement.It is desirable to formulate future policy in regard to the important question oflivestock improvement.2. For convenience the subject is usually discussed underthe headings Breeding, Feedingand Management; but it is important to rememberthat in practice a breeding policy must be accompanied by corresponding progressin feeding and management. The first step therefore in a practical policy is toimprove the environment so as to enable breeds more specialized towardsproduction to improve production. Unless this is done, the introduction of breedsmore specialized towards production will not only fail to achieve betterproduction, but will spoil the specialized qualities of the local breeds in respect oftheir ability to thrive under present local conditions.3. Broadly speaking, then., the problem confronting usis how best to use, improve and add to the natural resources of the country, viz:the water and the grazing and the livestock population. The production ofinefficient animals must be avoided, and, if produced, they must be got rid of:.also wastage from disease must be prevented as much as possible.4. Ultimately the solution of the problem rests in thehands of the owners of livestock themselves, but guidance and assistance isprovided by the Veterinary Department in collaboratidn with the DistrictAdministration and the Public Works, the Agricultural, and EducationDepartments. The nature of the problem is such that any real progress must

depend on self-help on the part of the owners of livestock, and therefore the assetsand energies of Government will be concentrated rather on promoting and guidingchanges of thought and activity than to supplying material requirements such asbulls and boreholes; for there is no such easy road to livestock improvement, andwith the help of Government the tribal authorities must lead the way - along thehard and only way - by promoting a policy aimed at the declaration of stockImprovement Areas, wherein for exqmple, better watering facilities, pasturemanagement and other anti-soil erosion ° measures, the use of only approvedbulls, inoculations against disease, dippings, castrations, culling andstock.limitation will be made compulsory.5. Steps are being taken to iiprove the knowledge of theCattle Guards in regard to these subjects, so that they may pass this knowledgeon'to the tribedmen. The European veterinary staff also, as it has recently beenincreased, will, it is hoped, be able to devote yet more time to personally advisingand assisting owners in such metters, and it is expected that the tribal authoritiesand the more enlightened members of the camunity will afford them everyassistance.6. This question is of vital national importance and asustained and united effort must be made to eliminate the crrors of the old waysand introduce better methods of livestock management.June, 194.

(Annexure iii)(viii)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILItem 3. Note by Bakwena.Cattle Industry.Possibility of importing bulls of good breed in order to improve our cattle. Thiswould enable us to own cattle for which we would realise high prices at the cattlesale markets.June, 1948.No. 7656/3.

(Annexure iv)(ix)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILIt em 4. Note by Bangwaketse.Future-Policy of Cattle Improvement.With the closing of certain Livestock Improvement Centres.it is desired to knowwhat it is intended to do in regard to Cattle Improvement. The Tribes that haveclosed their centres found them to be unprofitable with all the Government adviceand efforts.June, 1948.No. 7656/3.

(Annexure v)(x )NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILItem 6.Note by Bakwena.Co-operation between the Veterinary Department and the Native Authorities.There is still much spade work to be done toattain the required standard of improving our livestock. It is feared this cannotpossibly be att-oined unless the Veterinary Department and the Native Authoritieswork co-operatively, which is not the case at present.June, 1948.

(Annexure vi)(xi)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 7.Distinctive branding of stock alongthe Border.For the purpose of facilitating the recognition of stock straying across the Borderinto neighbouring territories it is proposed to require under Regulation 48 of HighCommissioner's Notice No.28 of 1926 that all stock in the territory within 10miles of the border of any neighbouring territory shall be branded with adistinctive brand.June, 1948.No. 5043/1.

No. 523/l.L. (Annexure vii)(xii)NOTE FOR THE AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 8.AGRICULTURAL DEMONSTRATORS.From time to time it is found desirable to transfer an Agricultural Demonstratorfrom Government service to the service of a Native Administration and thispractice will no doubt continue. The salaries paid by Government to theseofficials are in on or the other of the following scales :Long Grade. £48,48,6ox6-96(bar)x8-144(bar)Intermediate B. £48,48,6Ox6-96(b.r)x8-144.In addition they receive a cost of living allowance, various leave, transport andmedical privileges and are eligible for the benefits of the Provident Fund or ofpensions.It is thought thet the resources of Native Treasuries would not permit of theiraccording such generous privileges to men transferred but there is no doubt that a

reduction in salary and loss of other privileges would constitute a definit, hardshipto the transferred officials.The views of Council are invited in an ondeavour to find a solution to thedifficulty.

(Annexure viii)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILGRAIN STORAGE. (9093).Item 9.Over production of grain in the Protectorateoccurs only when favourable climatic conditions extend over the major portion ofSouth Africa : low prices then prevail. On the other hand, the poorest crop yearsnecessitate the heaviest importations of grain at highest costs. It may be assumedthat supplies of grain from the neighbouring territT ories will decrease as miningand other :industrial activities in those territories increase and owing to thenecessity of introducing more balanced systems of agriculture than have beenpractised in the past.2. Suitable grtin storage facilities at presentavailable in the Territory have a capacity of less than 30,000 bags and are totallyinadequate for the purpose of carrying over significant stocks of grain from oneseason to the next and deterioration and losses amount to large proportions.Savings in railage and bagging, varying from 3/- to 6/- a bag could be effected bycarrying over grain from a good to a bad season. The buying and handling ofgrain in bulk could be done more economically than at present and it wouldseldom bu necessary to carry over supplies for more than one or two seasons.3. Three methods of grcin storage suggest themselves;first, the. installation of iron tanks of comparatively small capacity; secondly, theconstruction of a few, say three, silos, at suitable places in the Territory, eachcapable of storing 50,000 bags, and thirdly, the construction of one central silowith a capacity of 150,000 bags.,4. With proper care, iron tanks are fairly satisfactory.The capital cost varies according tothe capacity of the tank. A small tank, capableof taking about six bags would cost about 10/- per bag, while a big tank with acapacity of 100 bags would cost about 4/6 per bag. This latter figure is probably alittle cheaper, comparatively, than the cost of building a silo. Tanks have theadvantage of being easily transported and erected but they have certaindisadvantages. Temperatures inside iron tanks fluctuate considerably with thediurnal temperature variations and unless the grain stored in them is dry, i.e. has amoisture content of not more than 10-12%, condensation of moisture on the sideof the tank takes place, affecting both the grain and the metal. Metal grain tanksshould, therefore, preferably be protected from extreme. temperature variations.5. The second method of storage would involve theerection of three 50,000 bag silos at, say Ivahalapye, Francistown and Lobatsi.The capital cost would probably be slightly higher than the cost of tanks with asimilar total capacity but the depreciation and upkeep costs would be lower. Bulk

buying and handling would be cheaper than for small quantities and the chancesof deterioration of the stored grain would be materially lessened.6. The third suggestion, the erection of one centralgranary for the storage of 150,000 bags, would most probably result in a reductionin the capital cost, and upkeep, and bulk buying would be facilitated. The cost ofadministration would be lower than in the case of three smaller granaries but thecosts of distribution for a central silo would be higher. 7- Difficulties will be metwith initially, e.g. with regard to grading of locally produced grain, moisturecontent of harvsted- grain, etc. but these would not b. insurmountable.(xiii)

(Annexure ix)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILItem 10.CREDIT SALES TO NATIVES 1(2760/4 II)The view has been put forwerd thct the restrictions imposed by the Credit Sales toNatives Proclamation (No.35 of 1932) operate harshly so far as African holders ofGeneral Dealers' Lic,nces are concerned.The proclamation provides generally that a debt for goods supplied which exceeds£25 in any one year cannot be recovered in the courts and, further, that where adebt is recoverable, any action in the courts for its recovery must be institutedwithin two years from the date on which the debt was incurred or acknowledged.The proclamation does not apply to goads supplied by a native to a native.As a result of these provisions, wholesale firms are reluctant to allow anysubstantial degree of credit to a native dealer who, in consequence, is at adisadvantage in this respect compared with European traders. On the other hand,the proclamation provides the native trader (in common with all other natives)with a measure of protection against unscrupulous firms and persons.There is provision in the proclamation for anative to be granted'exemption from its provisions if he is in possession of anexemption certificate issued by a District Commissioner but, in the case of anative trader, the issue of such a certificate might be regarded as a testimonial tohis financial soundness and no District Commissioner should be expected toassume the responsibility for the issue of such a testimonial.The views of members on the desirability of excluding African holders of GeneralDealers' Licences from the scope of the proclamation are invited.(xiv)

No. 8660/1.(xv)NOTE FOR THE AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILItem. l.Proposed increase in out-patients' fees.The 1/- outpatients' fee was first introduced

in 1920. Previous to this no fee was payable. Following the introduction of thissmall fee, outpatients' attendances increased enormously.2. In 1920 - 21 when the 1/- fee was first introducedthe normal medical expenditure was £3,700. In 1948-49 it i likely to be nearly£60,000, an increase of 1400%. Mecical revenue from all sources in 1947 wasonly £3,498.11.7do, of which only £l,857.15s. was derived from the 1/-outpatients' fees paid by Africans.3. In addition to the increased costs arising fromraised salaries and cost of living allowances, the prices of drugs, dressings,instruments and other commodities have increased greatly. To quote a fewexamples, cotton wool was 8d. lb. pre-war, now it is 2/6d. lb. in London; whitelint was 1/3d. lb., now it is 4/6 d. lb: boracic lint was llTd. lb., now it is 4/81d. lb.An instrument which before the war was purchased for £23.10s. is now quoted at£52,17.6d. Other instruments and drugs have also increased in priceproportionately.4. A large number of patients consider they are notreceiving proper medical attention when only 1/- is payable. Many insist on beingallowed to .pay 5/- and upwards and being treated as "private patients". AllMedical Officers have been confronted with a patient asking to receive "Specialtreatmentt5. Legislation has recently been introduced raisingthe hospital fees of Luropean patients by approximately 33-1/3%. Africans payno inpatient fees whatever, not is any payment made for operations or specialinvestigations like x-rays.6. At Serowe an African private practitioner hasput up his plate. This would not have been done had there not been the demand.Chargos by private practitioners will be far in excess of the suggested newcharges.7. It is proposed therefore that Council shoulddiscuss the proposal for an increase in the outpatient fee of 1/- at present payable.(Annexure x)

June, 1948.No. 2944.(xvi)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILItem 12.Contributions-by Native Treasuriesfor maintenance of lunatics.On the 1st February last there was 37 mental patients for which this Governmentis responsible. Of these, 15 were in Union Mental Hospitals and 22 in thehospitals of the Territory. Four of the latter are military pensioners whosemaintenance is borne by the War Office.It is suggested that Native Treasuries should bear a share of this expenditure bypaying a fixed sum to Government for each mental patient belonging to the tribe.

Native Authorities have been consulted and in most cases have agreed to theproposal but two Chiefs have proposed that the matter should be discussed inCouncil. The matter has accordingly been placed on the agenda.(Annexuro xi)

(Annexure xii)(xvii)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 14.Definition of Motor Vehicle Plying for hire.(3208 VI)By Proclamation No.1 of 1948 the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Proclamationwas amended so as to impose an additional licence fee of £2. on motor vehiclesplying for hire, but some difficulty has been found in defining the phrase "plyingfor hire". In the case of a regular motor bus service, there is, of course, nodifficulty, but opinion is divided as to whether the owner of a lorry who uses hisvehicle primarily for the carriage of goods but who also when they happen to beavailable carries fare-paying passengers should be included. Some of such lorryowners while not actually maintaining a regular service between fixed points,carry a substantial number of passengers in their vehicles, while others acceptonly the casual passenger and do not regard passenger carrying as an appreciablepart of their transport business.The views of Council are invited regarding the definition of a motor vehicleplying for hire.

(xviii)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 15.Note by Bakwena.Inter-district Tax collections.One of the'shortages of tax is due to the factthat our men who are in other reserves are not taxed by the reserves in which theymay be residing at the time of tax collection. Arrangements be made to have taxcollected from these people.June, 1948.(Annexure xiii )No . 7989.

(Annexure xiv)(xix)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 16.Note by Bangwaketse.

Capital Expenditure on Tribal Buildings.From experience in the past much inconvenience has been caused Tribes to put upbuildings in time before the end of the financial year. Sometimes the approvedestimates are received well in to the financial year and by the time bricks arebeing made and materials ordered the year has come to an end. Tribal activitiesnamely, reaping, thrashing, etc. occupy men who could be used to assist inbuilding operations. It is suggested, therefore, that any approved expenditure for abuilding should be used continuously without waiting for a further authority tocarry over the balance into the next financial year- This would mean making anamendment in theTreasury regulations.June, 1948.

No. 7022.(xx)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 17.DIVORCE.At the 28th Session of Council a discussion took place on the part to be played byNative Courts in cases in which an action is brought for the dissolution of amarriage which has been contracted in accordance with the law of the Territory,as distinct from a marriage contracted in accordance with native law and cust6m.2. Under the law as it stands at present, such marriagescan be dissolved only in a subordinate court, though in some Reserves the NativeCourt first investigates the matter and the District Commissioner in making hisdecision is largely guided by the result of such investigation. If a divorce isgranted, the division of the property is arranged by the Native Court at the requestof the District Commissioner3. The question of vhether the law should beamended soas to place the dissolution of such marriages within the jurisdiction of NativeCourts has been further examined and all District Commissioners have beenconsulted. They are equally divided in their views and the matter has accordinglybeen placed on the agenda for further discussion.( Annexure xv)

No. 7028/l.(xxi)(Annexure xvi)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 18.Note by Bakwena.Marriage by Special Licence.

That a marriage of this nature be contracted only on production of a writtenauthority by the Chief in which the Chief shall state that the parents of thecontracting parties have agreed to the contract of such marriage.June, 1948.

(xxii)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 22.Note by Bakwena.Telegraphic communications.There is great inconvenience caused as the result of having no telegraphiccommunications between the Gaberones station and Molepolole. Urgentmessages reach Gaberones or Molepolole only on post days.Note by Government.An official of the Union Department of Posts and Telegraphs is shortly to visitMafeking to discuss with Government the question of a full study of the telephonerequirements of the Territory. The study will include, inter alia, the matter of atelephone between Molepolole and Gaberones and the connection of suchtelephone with the rest of the countiy.Following this it will be possible to put upplans for erection of lines which are considered necessary.June, 1948.No.-2633/4.(Annexure xvii)

(xxiii)(Annexure xviii)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 23.Note by Bakwena.Colour Bar.Though this item appears not to be in practice in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, itdoes exist and is only noticeable among those Africans who have close dealingswith Europeans. It is of the chief causes for the retrogression of civilisation inthis country.June, 1948.

(xxiv)(Annexure xix)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 24. Note by Bakwena.Construction of bridges.

Bridges are urgently required to be erected at IMmamoka and Mokgopeetsane.During rainy seasons we experienced considerable transport irregularities as theroad to Gaberones becomes impassable.June, 1948.

June, 1948.-No. 2751.-.251. (Annexure xx)(xxv)$NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 25.Note by Bakwena.Trade Monopoly.At present a General Dealer possesses a licence which enables him to runbusiness on hides and skins, groceries, outfitting and hardware, etc. It would beappreciated if each trader could be issued with one licence for each department toenable other people to carry out trade on other lines and that traders irrespectiveof colour be under the direct control of the Chief in whose district they carry outtrade.

June, 1948.(Annexure xxi)No. 6694.(xxvi)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 26.Voluntary contributions by small communities for local projects.Members will recollect that at the last session a proposal was made that Section32 of the Native Administration Proclamation (No.32 of 1943) should beamended so as to empower the Resident Commissioner to authorise the collectionof voluntary contributions from native communities for local purposes (28thSession, Item 14.)His Honour expressed himself ab favourably impressed with the principle andsuggested that a small Committee should bb appointed to work out matters ofdetail, including a financial limitation of the aggregate of the contributions whichshould be allowed.So far as Government is aware, the Committee was not formed and the matter hastherefore been placed on the agenda again in order to give members anopportunity of arranging for detailed proposals to be prepared.

(xxvii)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY CJNCIL.Item 27.

Registration of African taxpayers at the age of 18 years.This question was debated at the last session of Council (item 4). It is placedagain on the agenda in the hope that members, after discussion with their people,may be able to put forward proposals for dealing satisfactorilywith this vexed question.June, 1948.No. 4,971/1.(Annexure xxii)

(xxviii)(Annexure xxiii)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY CCJ NCIL.Item 28.Note by Bangwaketse.Assistance to Tribal Administrationto obtain goods "In Bond".In previous years when there still existed theNative Fund, everything was, purchased by Government from this Fund for theindividual Tribes and such purchases were "In Bond' as they were made byGovernment itself or for the Tribe. The Tribal Treasuries are a mere change oftitle and management but the actual intentions are still the same, that is, moneyused for Tribal purposes. The Tribal Administrations are additional Governmentdepartments and as such should still enjoy the same privileges as otherDepartments by obtaining goods "In Bond".June, 1948.

(Annexure xxiv)(xxix)NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 29.Appointment of a member for the Basubiato the African Advisory Council.A proposal has been received from the District Commissioner, Maun, that amember should be appointed to the Council to represent the Basubia residents inthe Crown Lands near Kachikau and the name of Headman Simvula has been putforward.The Resident Commissioner has no objection to the proposal and, if agreed byCouncil, Headman Simvula will be appointed as a member forthwith.June, 1948.No.- 4145,

No. 2512. (Annexure xxv)(xxx)

NOTE FOR AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.Item 31.Orders by Native Courts for thetaking of fingerprints.The amendment to the Native Courts Proclamation which was effected by SectionI of Proclamation No.21 of 1948 empowers Native Courts to order the taking offingerprints of any person convicted af any of the offences set out in the SecondSchedule to the principal law.2. It is now desirable that a practice, uniform inall Native Courts, should be adopted in order to implement the provisions of thesection in question and in order that standing instructions may be issued by theCommissioner of Police to policemen who will be responsible for the takingof the finger prints.3. In-the opinion of Government it is desirable thatNative Courts should order that the finger prints of all persons convicted of one ofthe crimes in the scheduleshould be taken. These crimes are:Abduction.Beastiality.Abortion. Sodomy.Assaults, with the intent Briberyto do serious bodily harm. Fraud.Extortion. Theft by false pretences.Forgery. House-breaking.Robbery. Indecent Assault.Incest. Malicious injury to property.Theft and Stock theft.Receiving stolen property,knowing same to be stolen.It is difficult for a court to discriminate between cases in which the taking of suchfinger prints is desirable and those in which it is not and without some definiterule thepractice would no doubt vary from court to court. It is accordingly proposed thatthe High Commissioner should b6 asked to make a rule to this effect under thepowers, conferred upon him by Suction 39 of Proclamation No.33 of 1943.4. With regard to the actual taking of the fingerprints, it is not practicable to arrange for a policeman to attend the Court with thenecessary apparatus and it is suggested that Native Courts should, in each case,send the person concerned to the nearest police station, after conviction.5. It is recommended that, after convicting a personof one of the offences in question, Native Gourts should where possible deferpassing sentence until the finger prints have been taken and referred to theCrimiinal Record Bureau at Gaberoncs in order that any previous convictions maybe established.

(xxxi)(Annexure xxvi)

NOTE OF MEETING OF THE GRADED TAXATION COWIITTEE HELD ATGABERONES ON 14TH JUNE, 1948.Present: His Honour the Resident CommissionerGovernment SecretaryFinancialSecretary.First Assistant Secretary.District Commissicners, Serowe, Lobatsi,Kanye,.Mochudi,Francistown,Maun,Molepolole,Tshabong,Gaberones.Kgosi Kgari (Bakwena)it Bathoen II (Bangwaketse)" Tshekedi (Bamangwato)" Molefi (Bakgatla)" Lotlamoreng (Barolong)" rokgosi III (Bamalete)" Matlala (Batlokwa)Mohumagadi P. Moremi (Regent of Batawana)Sub-Chief Ramokate (Tati)Headman Mosiiwa (Kgalagadi)It was agreed by the Committee to accept the proposed system and rates of g-raded taxation put to the African Advisory Council at its 27th Session held inApril, 1946 - with one or two modifications.As the result of the consultation of Chiefswith their people since the meeting of the African AdVisory Council, referred toabove, it was agreed :(i) that the Government basic tax should beraised to 28/-;(ii) that there should be a rebate to NativeAdministrations of 35 per cent. of thisGovernment basic tax;(iii) that the annual contributions from Native Administrations to Government atthe rate of2/- per tax payer previously paid from speciallevy should cease;(iv) that the minimum additional graded taxationrate for stock owners should be 5/-;(v) that provisionbe made in the law to enablelower income groups in areas such as the Kalahari to be dealt with by means of asystem of regional exemption;(iv) that mine labourers be taxed at the rate of10/- per head irrespective of whether theyare engaged on a full contract or on an A.V.S.contract;

(vii) that/...

:1(xxxii)(Annexure xxvi)(vii) that weaned stock should form the basis oftaxation;(viii) that the assessment of stock in tribal areas should be the responsibility ofNativeAdministrations;(ix) that graded taxation be imposed on allAfrican taxpayers in the Territory irrespective of whether they reside in tribal ornon-tribalareas;(x) that the increased basic taxation and gradedtaxation become effective from 1st April, 1949.After a meeting with the Financial Secretary it was decided to adopt a system ofloose loaf registers instead of a card index system. To avoid disclosure of stockholdings persons owning more than 300 head of stock may be shown as holdingthe maximum number without actual specification of the numbers of stock ownedbeing shown. Categories can be specified, e.g., 0 - 9 head of stock would beCategory one.The rates finally adopted with basis ofassessment are set out below for convenience of reference:No. of Basic Govt. Additional Totalstock Poll Tax. Tribalowned. GradedTax-ation.Gateaory 1 0 - 9 £1. 8. o. 5. 0. £1.13. 0.Category 2 10 - 20 £1. 8. 0. 10. 0. £1.18. 0.Category 3 21 - 40 £1. 8. o. £1. 0. 0. £2. 8. 0.Category 41 - 60 £1. 8. 0. £1.10. 0. £2.18. o.Category 5 61 - 80 £1. 8. 0. £2. 0. 0. £3. 8. 0.Category6 81 - 100 £1. 8. 0. £2.15. 0. £4. 3. 0.Category 7 101 - 150 £i. 8. 0. £3.15. 0. £5. 3. 0._________ 151 - 200 £I. 8. o. £5. 5. 0. £6.13. 0.Category9 201 - 300 £I. 8. 0. £7.10. 0. £8.18. o.Category 10 Over 300 £i. 8. 0. £i0. o. o. £i. 8. o.(a) For purposes of assessment only weanedstock will be taxable.(b) Seven head of small stock will be regardedas the equivalent of one head of cattle.(c) Horses will not be taxable.(d) The user or controller of "mafisa"t cattlewill be responsible for the payment of taxon cattle in his possession, adjustment being left as a matter between the owner

and the user(e) Women and minors owning ten head of stockor more will be assessed at the usual rates.Should they own less than ten head of stockno tax will be payable.(f) Graded/...

(xxxiii)(Annexure xxvi)(f) Graded tax will become due at the beginning ofthe financial year and will be based on the holding of stock at the time ofassessment, provided that persons acquiring stock after the beginning of thefinancial year will be liable to pay as if they had held the stockat the beginning of th6 financial year(g) A stock owner who is also a wageearnerwill not be taxed on both his stock and his wages, but he will pay in respect ofeitherone or the other at the rate which is thehigher.The rates and basis of assessment in respect of salary and wage earners are asfollows :Annual Rate Basic Govt. Additional Totalof Salary. Poll Tax. TribalGraded Tax.Up to £48 £1. 8. 0. Nil £I. 8. 0.£49 - £60 1. 8. o. 10. 0. 1.18. o.£61 - £96 1. 8. o. 15. 0. 2. 3. 0.£97 - £120 1. 8. 0. £1. 5. 0. 2.13. 0.£121 - £150 1. 8. c. 1.15. 0. 3. 3. 0.£151 - £204 1. 8. 0. 2. 5. 0. 3.13. 0.£205 - £250 1. 8. o. 3. 0. 0. 4. 8. 0.£251 - £360 1. 8. o. 3.15. 0. 5. 3. 0.£361 £500 1. 8. o. 5. O. 0. 6. 8. o.£501 - £750 1. 8. o. 7.10. 0. 8.18. o.Over £750 1. 8. o. 10. 0. 0. 11. 8. 0.(a) Graded tax will become due at the beginning of thefinancial year and will be based (.n an annual rate of salary or wage compiled onthe monthly or daily rate drawn at the time of assessment, provided thatpersons engaging in employment after the be-Tinningof the financial year will be liable to pay as ifthey were in employment at the beginning of thefinancial year(b) Mine labourers are to be assessed at a flat rateof 10/- whether they engage on a normal contract or on an A.V.S. contract, andwill be required to paytheir graded tax at the time of entering their

contract and before leaving the countrySo far as concerns the proposed increase inbasic taxation, this will be effected by an amendment of Section 3(1) ofProclamation No.1 of 1932.Separate legislation will be drawn up for the imposition of graded taxation.It is suggested that the system proposed might be tried for an experimental periodof three years on the clear understanding that Government does not commit itselfat this stage to agreeing that graded taxation should permanentlybe levied by the tribes.At/...

(Annexure xxvi)(xxxiv)At the end of three years the whole position would be reviewed in the light ofexperience gained.Native Administrations should state early whatare their financial requirements to enable them to prepare for the introduction ofthe new system of taxation with effect from 1st April, 1949. The HighCommissioner's authority will be necessary before any additional expenditure isincurred.

AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILOPENING ADDRESSBYHIS HONOUR THE RESIDENT COMMISSIONER6ANTHONY SILLERY, ESQUIRE, B.A..C.V.O.19th AUGUST, 1948..----- --oBefore opening proceedings,- the Resident Commissioner presentedNAMANE with the Certificate of Honour and Badge for good work and longservice.My Friends,I welcome you to the 29th session of the African Advisory Council. It has againbeen necessary to postpone the session owing principally to the outbreak ofpoliomyelitis, which has now, I am happy to say, abated.Mr- Parish, the Director of Livestock and Agricultural Services, proceeded onleave on the 5th April, pending his retirement from the Service, which will takeplace in August. Mr. Parish came to us towards the end of 1944 after many years'distinguished service under the Union Government. I do not need to tell membersof the keen and loyal service which he has given to the Bechuanaland Protectorateand the efforts which he has made to improve the agricultural and stock-raisingindustry of the Territory. On behalf of Council I would like to thank himfor his service and wish him and Mrs: Parish a long and happy retirement.His Excellency, the High Commissioner, paid a week's

visit to the Southern Protectorate in January and visited Kanye, Lobatsi,Gaberones, Mochudi and Molepolole. Last month he visited Shoshong, the TuliBlock, Francistown and also saw theprogress made with the building of the secondary school at Moeng.A commission under the Uhairmanship of Mr. T.Fitzgerland, C.M.G., O.B.E., formerly Postmaster General of Kenya, Uganda andTanganyika, visited the Territory in November and December last year toexamine the remuneration and conditions of service of European and Africanofficials in the Protectorate. We await the Commission's representations.Sir Walter Huggard, K.C., who held the appointment of Judge of the High Courtsince October, 1937, has been compelled to retire on grounds of ill health and hisplace has been taken by Sir Walter Harragin, C.M.G,, h.C., formerly Chief Justiceof the Gold Coast. He held his first session at Lobatsi in April.I have to record, with much regret, the deaths of the following prominentmembers of the community since the last meeting of Council :KitsoMotsholakgetse of the Bamangwato.Mokgadi Bome of the Bangwaketse, a paternal Uncle ofChief Bathoen.Phologo Settsang of 2 ..okopong.Bakai/...

- 2 -Bakai Modibedi.Leepile Mokgoko.Rakgagana Molebatsi.Keitsile Moitoi. ) of the Bakwena,Lephala Babuseng.Lekwape Menyatso, andMotile Mosale.We have also heard of the deaths of Mr- Barry May, C.M.G., a formerGovernment Secretary of this Territory and of Major Hannay, whom the oldermembers of Council will remember as an officer of this Government who was atone time stationed at Serowe and in Ngamiland. We also heard with regret of thedeath on the 6th August of Mr- A.L. Cuzen, formerly District Commissioner atLobatsi. As a mark of respect to their memories, I would ask Jouncil to stand.The creamery at Lobatsi, owned by Milk Products Limited is now in productionand it is understood that they hope shortly to begin the manufacture of mineralwaters and furniture as subsidiaries to the main undertaking.The proposed establishment of co-operative dairies in the Bangwaketse Reservehas aroused considerable interest among the tribesmen but, owing to adversegrazing conditions during 1947, no progress has yet been made.A grant from the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund has been approved fora geological and mineral survey but we still await approval of our educational,medical, public works and hydrological (surface water) plans. It is to be hopedthat this approval will shortly be forthcoming. Meanwhile plans already

approved proceed fairly steadilyBefore passing. to a review of departmentalactivities, I'feel I must make reference to the unusually good rains which theterritory has enjoyed, especially in the North. Let us hope that 1948 will prove tobe a good year for sto6k and crops.; More especially do we hope for this, sinceconditions were so bad in the Kalahari in 1947. that it was necessary forGovernment to feed destitute persons.FINANCE.At the 1st April, 1946, the accumulated surplus was £281,974. The surplus in1946Z1947 was £50,275 thus raising the accumulated surplus at the 31st March,1947, to £332,249. These figures include receipts-and payments under ColonialDevelopment and Welfare Fund Schemes. , An amount of £11,703 is due by theColonial Development and Welfare Fund for payments made up to the 31stMarch, 1947. The accumulated surplus at the 31st March,should be,therefore,£343,952.The surplus for 1946/1947 was £56,726 more than theoriginal estimate. The increase was due mainly to unexpected additionalcollections under tje heads, Customs and Excise Posts and Telephones andIncome Tax. The increase under Posts and Telephones was due to the sale ofRoyal Visit Stamps.The original estimates for the year 1947/1948 reflected a surplus of £8,569. Therevised estimates show a deficit of £Z4,716. This decrease is due mainly to thelarge expenditure on the building programme, and the Foot and Mouth Campaignin Ngamiland.Drafte..

-3Draft Estimates 1948/1949.The estimated ouit-ttirn of the budget for the financial year 1948/1949 is asfollows :Estimated Accumulated surplusat 31st March, 1948 ............................. £287,5O7Estimated Expenditure .............. £432,466.Less Estimated Revenue .............. 387,750.Estimated Deficit 1948/1949 ...................... £44.716.Estimated accumulated surplusat 31st March, 1949 .......................... 2242.791.Revenue.The draft esti iates of revenue for the year show adrop of £35,550 on the original estimates for 1947/1948. This is due to estimatedreduced collections under the head Income Tax.Expenditure.The draft estimates of expenditure show an increase of £17,735 on the approvedestimates for 1947/1948, details of which are reflected under the various heads.This increaseis due to the inclusion in the estimates of the uncompleted balance of the buildingprogramme authorised during 1947/1948.

It has been necessary to take on to estimates commitments under certain ColonialDevelopment and Welfare Fund Schemes amounting to £16,003. Against thisincrease economies and savings amounting to £18,963 have been effected undervarious heads. The Financial Secretary will be at your disposal and will givefurther details if you so wish.EDUCATION.At the last session of Council it was possible toreport a considerable strengthening of the staff of the Education Department bythe appointment of two European Education Officers, in addition to Agricultural,Homecrafts and Welfare Officers. The specialised knowledge and experiencewhich they brought were badly needed and have been effectively employed. Onthe African side too, the establishment has been strengthened by the appointmentof 11iss G.K.T. Chiepe, B.Sc., and Mr, S.H. Modisi to the itinerant staff, both ofwhom, however, have been temporarily seconded to the Government TeacherTraining Centre at Kanye.The number of African schools remains as last reported that is 150, but the totalenrolment recorded at the end of the year reveals a disquieting drop of 3,840pupils or of 18%. Food shortage is the only reason so far advanced for thisreduction in numbers, which led to a decline in the total enrolment to a figure of17,391 at the end of 1947, as against over 21,000 the year before. Had thisreferred to the number of pupils in attendance, this would have been betterunderstood but, since it represents the number enrolled, it is more difficult tounderstand.According to the 1946 census, our population was289,285 so that our potential school enrolment may be estimate at 57,8 7. Whenwe discover that of these only 17,391 were en rolled, or only three children out often, and that average attendances were only a quarter of those who should attend,itmust/...

-4must be admitted that educational facilities of a very rudimentary character have,as yet, been made available for or takenadvantage of by but a small percentage of our African children. This percentagevaries from 8% among the Batawana to 21% among the B&kgatla and in the Tati,to 42 o in the Kgalagadi and 67% among the Batlokwa. These figures will beanalysed more fully in the Annual Report of the Department. In the meantime,they suggest the urgency of the need for continuing the stock-takingin connection with the primary system, upon which for some years theDepartment has been engaged, but which, owing to staff increases, is now beingintensified. Towards this, the views expressed by Councillors regarding control,as embodied in the Minutes of the 28th Session, may helpfully contribute, as theDepartment turns to the drafting of amending legislation for theconsideration of all concerned.Disregarding the staffs of the Kanye Teacher Training

Centre and of the Homecrafts Training Centre, Mochudi, the number of Africanteachers employed rose from 417 to 444, but the percentage of those whoqualified dropped from 45% to 41%, so that in 1947 six teachers out of every tenemployed in the Protectorate had had. no professional training for this importantwork, and but little more instruction than many of the pupils they taught.Although throughout the Protectorate a much smaller number of pupils was taughtby a greater number ofteachers, with corresponding relief, the percentage of qualified men had droppedfrom 47% to 46% and of qualified women from 40% to 35%.In the middle schools the enrolment dropped from 681 to 645 and in theHomecrafts training centre at Mochudi from 47 to 37.The circulars issued by the Department concerning thePrimary Schools Leavin4 Examination showed, aong other findings, the following:(i) That of 455 entries only 137 passed or 30%.(ii) That of these, 6 were placed in the first class and 95 in the third class.(iii) That included among the 455 entries were 166 repeats (i.e.37%) of whom 96failed againof 58%.(iv) That according to the grouping of the schools the results were distributed asfollowsPercentage Average markPasses. over allsubjects.Mission Schools (2) 809 51%Village Schools (11) 34% 39%Tribal MiddleSchools (4) 21% 35%Desert Schools (4) 15% 34%At St. Joseph's, the only boarding school in the Protectorate, with the exception ofthe Homecrafts Training Centre, Mochudi, of 36 entrants 33 passed, 6 in the firstclass, 15 in the second and 12 in the third.The tribal middle schools which were relatively wellstaffed and equipped, and which represented 283 candidates, agaiishowed marked inferiority, for they fared considerably worse than the lessfavoured village schools, and little better than the desert schools. To analyse thecauses and to facilitate!...

-5facilitate reform, a panel of four European and one African officers was recentlyappointed by the Director to make an intensive survey of the-se tribal schools,spending a week at each.Discussions were held with the committees and staffs concerned, interim reportswere issued and a composite report followed..At the beginning of the year, in view of the deplorably low standards stillreflected in our School Leaving Examination results, and of the accommodation

and staffing difficulties at the tribal and middle schools, it was suggested that theCommittees should examine the desirability of withdrawing Standard VIIimmediately from such schools. It was the considered opinion of theDepartment that this would enable them to concentrate more profitably on theother classes and, moreover, that Standard VII should constitute the first year of asecondary course. General agreement was given to this proposal, Theconsequential withdrawal of this class should have a beneficial effect upon thework of these schools.38 Students were enrolled in the secondary section of the St. Joseph's Institution,apart from a small parallel group which is profitably following a post-primaryfour-year course in carpentry.In spite of difficulties connected with the selection of students for the inauguralsecondary course, and the lack of adequate preparation on the part of many whocame from schools of lower standard, successes were earned in the UniversityJunior Certificate Examination at the end of 1947, an encouraging indication offurther attainment at this progressive centre.The opening of the Ngwato tribal secondary school atMoeng, at the beginning of next year, is keenly ataited for this project has arousedwidespread interest, and upon it are f6cused many educational hopes.Encouraging progress may be reported concerning the Government TrainingCentre, Kanye, where the enrolment is now 43, and where, as suitable residentialaccommodation is provided this number will steadily increase. In the meantimetemporary accommodation has been leased, the equipment improved, and the staffstrengthened: by the secondments referred to earlierThrough the courtesy of theSt. Joseph's i'ission, Khale the only educational centre in the Protectorate wherethere is adequate residential accommodation, a Vacation Course for teachers washeld there during the period June 27th to July 4th.. It'was formally opened by theDeputy Resident Commissioner whoconveyed a message from me to the conference since other duties had made itimpossible for-me to attend. A gratifying response having been received, fulladvantage was taken of the excellent accommodation available, so that the schoolsystem throughout the Protectorate should be stimulated to higher standards andgreater endeavourThis was the first full year of service by the AgriculturalEducation Officer, and in spite of every adverse weather conditions encouragingprogress in many areas may be reported. 'As in the case of school gardening this was the first full year in which the servicesof a qualified itinerant officer were available for homecrafts, the response beingsimilarly encouraging.At/...

-6-At Iochudi a tribal house kindlr placed at our disposal by the lative Authority,was~ ireconditioned and suitably equipped for the training of adolescents andmore recently two small rooms which comprised the old post office, and whichwere adjacent, have been offered to the Department which has called

for an estimate to renovate and equip them for instruction in craft-work.The 1947 census taken on September 30th revealed that there was a total of 2,969Guides of all ranks and 1,200 Pathfinder Scouts. It also disclosed that about halfof the scout troops shown in the records had ceased to exist.It was reported, too, that there was no longer anyaccredited organisation for the Brigade Movements and that the only active Boys'Brigade Companies were restricted to those at Maun and Kachikau.Although authority is still awaited for a ColonialDevelopment and Welfare Fund grant to enable the mobile cinema van to operate,it has made a short tour of certain tribal headquarters and has been received withmarked interest and enthusiasm.VETERINARY.Dispersed rainfall in the early part of 1947 and delayed rainfall at the end of theyear resulted in drought conditions of varying severity in most parts of thecountry. The Tati Concession and neighbouring portions of the Ngwato Reservewere most seriously affected and heavy losses resulted. Drought conditionsemphasised the ill effects of overstocking wherever this existed, and the positionwas aggravated by restrictions on movements owing to the foot and mouth diseaseoutbreak.. In Ngamiland rainfall did not commence until late January but thewatering position was met by flood waters which reached Lake Ngami caused byheavy rains in Angola.Veld fires caused less damage than usual.Despite the restrictive influence of foot and mouth disease large increases inexports of cattle, sheep, goats and hides were achieved during the year- Thiscontrasts favourablywith the drop in such exports during any previous years in which fo6t and mouthdisease occurred, although the last two previous outbreaks were smaller.Cattle exports increased by nearly 7,000 head from last year which was theprevious record figure. This was largely due to an export of nearly 8,000 head tothe Belgian Congo, which proved to be a valuable additional market.The Union was again the primary market for our cattle and exports toJohannesburg rose by over 2,500 head from the previous year's total.Cattle export to Northern Rhodesia dropped by nearly700 head due to competition from the Belgian Congo, and Southern Rhodesiaimported over,2,600 less' cattle than in 1946.Over 16,000 sheep and coats were exported in 1947 compar ed with less than6,000 in 1949. The Union took over 9,000 more than last year- More than 100more pigs were exported than in 1946. rOwing to the drought 828,993 lbs. of hides weretxported compared with 289,850 in 1946.Approximately/,..

-7-Approximately 2,000 fewer cattle, 400 sheep, 800 horse. and 400 donkeys wereimported than in the previous year. The number of stud bulls imported was about

the same as last year. In spite of drought, decreased imports and increased exportsthe cattle population is recorded as being larger by some 8,000 head and sheepand goats have increased by nearly 21,000 head.In the Tati Concession and Bokalaka area a decrease of 39,000 head of cattle isrecorded, accounted for in part by a mortality of nearly 18,C00 head.The greatest single source of ill health among animals remained the adverseconditions associated with seasonal shortage of water and grazing, particularly theformer, and the low nutritive value of the grazing in the dry period. Theseconditions in conjunction with poor animal husbandry, caused a mortality far inexcess of that recorded, besides loss of production among survivors in respect ofmeat and milk. The drought experienced this year accentuated the normalposition. Much mortality also occurred as usual from the depredations ofcarnivora.Quarter evil, contagious abortion, heartwater, and calf paratyphoid continue tocause heavy losses among cattle, while anthrax and bovine botulism also taketheir toll.Lumpy skin disease seems to have nearly disappeared almost as suddenly as itappeared. Small sporadic outbreaks occurred and residual lesions have beenobserved.A recrudescence of rabies occurred in the Lobatsidistrict in March, 1949, and a suspected case of rabies has been reported atShakawe near Mohembo-on the Angola border- The usual control measurashave been adopted.A total of 137,786 cattle were inoculated with foot and mouth disease virus in thecordoned area by the 19th My. This inoculation campaign was conductedrelatively more quickly than the 1944 campaign, when only some 90,000 cattlewere inoculated by the end of April, the disease being diagnosed in each ,year atabout the same date in January. The .1947 outbreak moreover entailed a longerand more widely dispersed cordon system due to the greater threat to the EasternProtectorate. Moreover, in 1947, veterinary staff had to be diverted to cordonduties, which in 1944, were performed by Police personnel. The provision oftransport for staff also constituted a major problem due to the unavoidable delaysentailed in obtaining suitable vehicles. deather and travelling conditions werehowever more favourable in the recent campaign than in the 1944 campaign. Butperhaps the most influential point ofdifference lay in the acceptance on this last occasion by the Union of that fact thatgame plays a greater part in the transmission of the disease than has hitherto beenrecognised. Thisis reflected by the declaration of the Kruger Dlational Park area as a Foot and1iouth Disease area, the erection of a cordon fence separating it from adjoiningareas, and the imposition of severe quarantine measures for the movement oflivestock and produce from the declared foot and mouth disease area througithe cordon to adjoining areas. This acceptance of the relationship between gameand foot and mouth disease on the part of the Union Veterinary Authorities led toa hardening of their attitude in respect of our control measures in relationship toexport and greater severity than was originally anticipated and for this reason

subsidiqry cordons were laid down and more temporary staff was engaged toenable more frequent inspections of the clean areas to be performed. It would beincorrect therefore to imagine that the additional temporary staff engagedfor/...

for foot and mouth disease duties was required for the conduct of the inoculationcampaign itself.The export of cattle to northern markets was resumed in iay, 1947, and to theUnion in June, 1947.For the reasons given also, it was not possible to rdise the two eastern subsidiarycordons before September and the movement of produce and livestock from thein-contact areas to the clean areas was not permitted until early in DecemberInApril, 1948, movements of cattle were permitted from certainportions of the inoculated area after quarantine and close inspections.In June this year, foot and mouth disease was found among cattle at Musu, whichis near the south eastern corner of the Makarikari Salt Pan, and by this time cattlemovements from this area had taken the disease to several other points in theBamangwato Reserve including Serowe. It is believed that the cattle at Musucontracted the disease from game, or possibly from cattle incculated in the 1947outbreak.It is particularly unfortunate that foci of infection became established in the3erowe and neighbouring areas whereinarable lands and a dense cattle population render control over cattle movementsexceedingly difficult, with the result that prevention of the spread of. the infectionto and across the railway line and to the eastern and southern portions of theBamangwato Reserve is doubtful. However, the most energetic measures weretaken to do so with a view to the earliest possible resumption of exports from allareas except the infected area east ofthe railway line.To begin with, a standstill order was imposed and made known through officialand tribal channels, mounted representatives with authority being despatched todanger points. Recent cattle movements were traced and stopped and the animalswere inspected and quarantined. One such movement from the Musu area wasintercepted just short of the Tati Concession and the cattle were returned to the -.,akarikari Pan area, with the result that infection of the Tati area has so far beenprevented.All available staff were immediately drafted to theinfected area wherein intensive inspections were commenced. Atthe same time Police Cordons were organised and are i:ow estabZished; (a) fromnear Mejabana, some 35 miles south-west of Serowe, along the southern slopes ofthe Makware range of hills to the railway line near Plokoro Siding; (b) from thiscordon in an arc west of the line some 7 miles from Palap ye to rejoin the railwayline just south of Dikabi siding; (c) from Mahalapye along the railway to Foleysiding; (d) from Foley siding in a north-westerly direction towards the MakarikariSalt Pan; (e) from south of Lephephe along the BamangwatoBakgatla boundary

to Palla Camp. Work on establishing the cordon between Foley Siding and theMakarikari Salt Pan continues apace and the cord6n along the railway line isbeing extended to Shashi siding and south to Palla Road.In addition to the normal veterinary staff, 16 temporary Stock Inspectors havebeen engaged to assist with the intensive repeated inspections necessary toestablish the limits of the disease. Valuable assistance in this work is also beingrendered by two Veterinary Officers and 18 Stock Inspectors of the UnionVeterinary Services and one Veterinary officer and3 Inspectors of the Southern .Rhodesia Veterinary 3ervices.To meet the transport requirements of cordons and inspections, three three-tonlorries and 4 one-ton vans have been purchased and 6 lorries have been borrowedfrom the Union Defence Force. At/...-8 -

-9-At a recent inter-territorial conference of veterinary experts, control measures andthe inter-territorial, implicationsof foot and mouth disease were discussed and experimental work was planned,but no decision has yet been made as to what control measures shall be adoptedother than Police cordons and quarantine. Until the limits of the disease areknown andcordons have been firmly established, no general inoculations can be performed.A team of veterinary, research officers from the Northern Rhodesia VeterinaryService are assisting in the research work being done. Specimens of virus fromthis outbreak havebeen sent to England and Kenya for experimental work to be done with it.A complicating factor of great consequence is thefact that, despite the good rains last season, surface waters in the infected area aredrying up and many thousands of cattle, which would normally move topermanent waters outside the cordons at this season; are prevented from doing so,Equipping additional existing watering points and water boring operations arebeing urgently undertaken to relieve a most serious situat ion.It is not possible a't this stage to predict with any accuracy the consequences ofthe outbreak on the livestock industry but that it is a calamity of graveproportions, which demands the utmost unselfish endeavours of everyone tomitigate,must be clear to every thinking person.The enclosure of our 1947 foot and mouth disease area by permanent cordons wasa recommendation of the Principal Veterinary Officer even before similar stepswere taken by the Union Veterinary Authorities in respect of the Kruger NationalPark area, as. a safeguard to our exports from the remainder ofthe Territory in the event of future outbreaks in the area contained -by thecordons, and as a measure designed to prevent the spread of the disease to theGhanzi district and the Eastern Protectorate. The cordons laid down near Mopipi

in the Ngwato Reserve and at Grays Pan in the Ghanzi Crown Lands havetherefore been maintained.Preoccupation with foot and mouth disease and export duties did not allow of anyspecial efforts towards improvement of animal husbandry methods, but muchunspectacular, though none the less valuable work, was done by members of thestaff who painstakingly continued to advise stock owners as to better methods ofstock management.12,754 cattle, 7,602 sheep and goats and 5 horses were castrated in 1947compared with 10,707 cattle, .7,906 'sheep and goats and no horses in 1946.45,742 cattle and 66,687 sheep and goats were dipped last year compared with28,158 cattle and 44,061 sheep and goats in 1946.291 cattle were treated for try-panosomiasis in 1947compared with 451 in 1940.723,340 doses of anthrax vaccine were issued in 1947 compared with 754,170doses in 1946, but 73,880 doses of quarter evil vaccine were issued comparedwith only 67,935 in 1946. The drop in anthrax vaccine issue was due primarily tothe drought conditions, as owners were unwilling to subject their stock to theadditional hardships involved by inoculation. A secondary cause was the pre-occupation of staff with foot and mouth disease and export duties.800/...

- 10.-800 doses of lamsiekte vaccine, 18 doses of gallsickness vaccine and. 50 doses ofavian tuberculin were issued. None were issued in 1946.Issues of calf paratyphoid vaccine rose but contagious abortion and horse sicknessvaccine issues fell slightly6 Horses were malleihed with negative results and 20dairy cattle were subjected to the tuberculin test.A disease occurring among cattle in the Tati District with symptoms suggestive oflungsickness was eventually diagnosed as pasteurelloses.i 194 . smear examinations were performed compared with 383 in19tSince the last meeting of Council Mr. G.A. Alford was engaged as a Veterinaryofficer and was posted temporarily at Lobatsi. Messrs. H.P- Macklin and J.Hopley were engaged asAgricultural and Livestock officers and posted to Ghanzi and Molepololerespectively. Four Stock inspectors, viz., Messrs. P.S. Alberts, J.C. MarnewickA.W. Reader, and R.A. Naylor were engaged and posted at Francistown, Kanye,Werda and Palapye respectively. Four African Cattle Guards were engaged toreplace losses.The undermentioned officers resignedMr. W.R. Murray, Animal Husbandry Officer,Mr. J.H. White ) Stock Inspectors.Mr- D. van der Vyver )Mr. N.F. Wright, Senior Agricultural and LivestockOfficer has been seconded on promotion to the Hong Kong service.During the present year the demand for our livestock

by neighbouring territories conitinued to exceed the supply and up to the middleof June, when exports by rail were prohibited on account of the foot and mouthdisease, 33,003 cattle, 13,474 sheep and goats and 85 pigs had been exported.Since then, 3,32cattle have been exported to Northern Rhodesia via tht Ohobe,bringing the total cattle exports to date to 36,326 head.A major problem in respect of livestock export has beenthe difficulty of obtaining trucks. This has been due to the large exports of grainto the Rhode5ias and the chortage of trucks and engine power. There is no doubtthat had it not been for this transport difficulty our exports this year would havebeen very considerably increased.In 1947, despi-te the additional duties entailedby a major outbreak of foot andmouth disease and the staff difficulties encountered, the veterinary services weremaintained at much the same level as in previous years.AGRICULTURE.The present crop season commenced favourably in theSouthern Protectorate, but these conditions were not maintained. A prolonged dryspell which prevailed during February reduced prospects of a good crop - in someareas the yields will be affected to an appreciable extent.In the Northern Protectorate general planting rains fell later than in the South andmidsummer drought was not felt as severely as in the Southern Protectorate,where the cropshad/...

- 11had reached a more critical stage of development. The indications are that asubstantial crop will be reaped.Ngamiland has experienced a good season and it is expected that the grainrequirements of that area will be met locally, The district of Ghanzi has alsoreceived favourable rains. At Tshabong the rains tapered away after a good start.Monthly imports of maize and maize meal have decreased from approximatelyten thousand to about two thousand units (= 200 lbs), which is abnormally highfor midsummer. The heavy food imports in recent years are an indication of thelow level to which crop production has dropped. Investigations indicate that lackof fertility of the soils, the use of unadapted crop varieties and the absence ofsound cultural practices are probably more often the factors limiting crop growththan is the rainfall. Every effort is being made to improve these conditions.The need to make surplus production in the Northavailable to those people in the South who have not succeeded in growing theirgrain requirements this season must be emphasised.While it is expected that a lesser quantity of food will be imported this year owingto general favourable climatic conditions, every effort must be made to raise thelevel of production to meet requirements in less favgurable seasons if very serioussituations are to be avoided in the future. There are many ways in whichimprovement in the agriculture of this Territory can be made and the fullassistance of the Tribal Authorities is necessary in bringing this about.

The favourable rains have brought about an increase in milk production which isreflected in the cream returns. These are the highest recorded in the past threeyears.Jhile more favourable grazing conditions have occurred throughout, theimprovement in many localities are relative and rejuvenation of the grasses hasnot occurred to the extent that will ensure their survival unless further overgrazingis avoided. There would appear to be a gradual awakening to the importance ofconservation of vegetation and soil.POLICE.In my last address to Council it was indicated that a slight reduction in theestablishment had been made as a result of the reorganisation earlier in the year.It has now been found necessary to make further reductions in both the Europeanand African branches for reasons of economy.The training of African Police at the GaberonesDepOt has now been extended to include refresher courses for non-commissionedofficers and specialised instruction for radio operators, in addition to recruits andpromotion courses. Last year 48 Africans passed through the Dep~t as comparedwith 64 the year before. The number of students would have been greater had itnot been that normal routine was interrupted early in the year by the necessity fortraining men and horses for the Royal Escort and later all men available had to beemployed on special duties.I am asked by the Commissioner of Police to say that" he/...

- 12he would be pleased to make arrangements for Members of Council to inspect theDep8t and see other branches of training being carried out. After havinginspected the Dep~t, it is thought that Chiefs might like to have Tribal Policeattend courses. The Commissioner of Police is prepared to make arrangements tothis end.Although the total number of criminal cases handled by the police in the past yearwas slightly less than in the year before, the actual number of cases in whichconvictions were obtained was slightly higher- Stock theft cases showed amarked increase and the percentage of this type of case sent for trial rose from55% in 1946 to 80% in 1947. Of the stock involved in 1947 81% wererecovered, less than 1% were unrecovered and the remaining 18% -representanimals subsequently found straying or of which skins only were recovered. Thisincreasing success in the investigation of crimein general and of stock theft inparticular is largely attributable to the improved training it is now possible to giveto African Police,'upon whom devolved the greater part of most investigations,particularly in the initial stages.In concluding this section on the Police, I am sur e I am expressing the feelings ofCouncil in saying that our sympathy goes out to Lieut. Colonel Masterman who islying seriously ill in Lobatsi Hospital. I am sure we all wish him a speedyrecoveryMEDICAL.

The shortage of doctors which existed earlier in the year has now been rectifiedand the professional staff is up to strength. There are now two medical officers ateach of the Government hospitals and one each at Mahalapye and Gaberones.Two new African Staff Nurses have been appointed but one of the old hands hasleft for domestic reasons.The training of African nurses continues throughout the Territory. There are four.pupil midwives at Serowe. Should they be successful in the final examinations atthe end of the year, they will attain the rank of Bechuanaland ProtectorateCertificated Nurses.The examinations held towards the latter part of last year revealed a very highproportion of successful candidates. Of 19 first year candidates, 16 weresuccessful, one passing with honours (over 75%) and 8 with merit (over 60%). All4 candidates who took the second year examination were successful, two passingwith merit. Both third year candidates passed with merit and, of the three pupilmidwives who took the examination, two passed, both with merit.The nosological returns for 1947 arc now to hand and reveal that the total numberof out-patients treated in 1947 was 222,799 as compared with 210,060 in 1946, anincrease of 12,739. The number of patients treated in hospital was 5,600 ascompared with 4,795 during 1946 - an increase of 805. Revenue collected was£3,498.11.7. as compared with £3,211.1.11. in 1946.Legislation.High Commissioner's Notice No.36 of 1948 amends High Commissioner's NoticeNo.54 of 1930 and make provision for/...

13for an increase in hospital chargcs for both Europeans and Coloureds. It also laysdown a charge applicable in cases where African patients request a diet on aEuropean scale. The increased charges still compare very favourably with thosecharged in similar institutions in the Union and the Rhodesias.High Commissioner's Notice No. 27 of 1948 dated the llth February nominatesthe persons appointed to be members of the High Commission Territories NursingCouncil. The first meeting of Council was recently held in Pretoria.Disease.'While there have beun no reports of plague this season, the work of theDepartment has been intensified in dealing with an outbreak of diptheria in theFrancistown, Bokalaka, Nata, Gweta and Serowe areas. In the Bokalaka andFrancistown areas, reports received indicate that 171 cases were diagnosed with77 deaths. This is a mortality rate of 45% and indicates that the disease was of ahigh virulence. At Serowe and in the neighbourhood of Serowe there have been43 cases diagnosed with 16 deaths. One confirmed case occurred at Ramoutsaand two at Lobatsi. The Health Inspector, Lobatsi, was sent first to the Nata areaand later to Serowe to assist in dealing with the outbreaks. Intensive precautionarymeasures were adopted in all areas. These consisted in the main of isolation, thepassive immunisation with anti-toxin of all close contacts, followed by activeimmunisation of all others in the area.

The main difficulty in the Bokalaka was the maintenance of an effective standstillorder to avoid unnecessary contacts. This was attempted with the active co-operation of the Commissioner of Police, but numerous insurmountabledifficulties were encountered and it was finally abandoned. Amongst those to visitthis area in connection with the outbreak have been the Acting Director ofMedical Services, the Medical Officer, Francistown and the icdical Officer ofHealth. Hitherto, close on 8,000 prophylactic inoculations have been carried outin the Bokalaka area.At Serowe, all school children, both European and African, received prophylacticinjections. The total number of inoculations carried out at Serowe and in thedistrict amounted to 20,065. One of the Medical Officers also visited theBobonong area and later proceeded to Rakops and Loklakane where prophylacticinoculations were also carried out, following reports of deaths subsequent to sorethroats. No clinical cases were seen on the visits. At Mahalapye and Machaneng 6confirmed cases with 3 deaths were encountered and the inoculation of all closecontacts was carried out.It is of interest to note that over 250 cases ofdiphtheria have also been reported from the Matabeleland West district ofSouthern Rhodesia, which is contiguous to the Francistown and Bokalaka areas.The position is now quiet, only one case having beenreported during the last month.Poliomyelitis.Since April the 23rd, a total of five confirmedEuropean and two confirmed African cases have occurred. Mostcases/...

- 14 -cases were comparatively mild. There has been no death. The last case reportedwas on the 7th June. All necessary steps to deal with the situation and to preventits spread were taken and by the 28th June the position was sufficientlysatisfactory to allow all quarantine restrictions to be lifted. This is a disease towhich Europeans are far more susceptible than Africans and, while the degree ofinfectivity is not ashigh as many otler more common ailments, like influenza, ithas always produced great alarm owing to the crippling paralysis which oftenresults. More than 1600 cases have been reported in the Transvaal since thebeginning of this year.Rabies.At the end of February a postmortem examination was performed at Pitsani on achild which had been bitten some three weeks before. The findings wereinconclusive, but the history and account of the symptoms leave little doubt butthat the cause of the death was rabies. Since then two patients were admitted tothe Lobatsi hospital with bites, in the one case from a meercat and in the otherfrom a tshipa. Another case bitten by a polecat at Digawana was admitted to theKanye hospital. All the cases received prophylactic vaccine and none acquiredthe disease.

In consultation with the Veterinary Department, it was decide4 to undertake ananti-rodent campaign in the affected areas. Mr. G.J. Erasmus, an ex-RodentInspector, together with subsidiary African staff, was delegated to deal with thesituation under the supervision of the Medical Officer at Lobatsi. The HealthInspector also took part in the campaign as soon as he returned from dealing withthe diphtheria situation in the Francistown area.One fatal human case of suspected rabies was also reported from Mohembo bythe African dispenser there. Steps were immediately taken to deal with thesituation there and no further cases were reported.Smallpox.The total number of cases reported by qualified staff since the last session ofCouncil is'61. In addition, 18 unconfirmed cases were reported from varioussources. Two deaths were reported from smallpox in the Kopong area ofMolepolole during February, 1948. Investigations carried out by the MedicalOfficer, Gaberones, substantiated the cause of death. Vaccinations performedduring the same period, excluding those at hospitals, Witwatersrand NativeLabour Association and Native Recruiting Corporation centres, total 6,137.Sleeping Sickness.Since October five further human cases of sleeping sickness, all confirmed byblood examination, have been diagnosed. All the cases are responding totreatment.Malaria.After the heavy rains, as expected, the malaria incidence rapidly increased. Anti-malaria measures were immediately energetically adopted in areas where theincidence was expected to be-high, mainly in the Ngamiland and Francistowndistricts. Along the Tuli Block, contacts were made with the Union anti-malariateam working along the Union side of the border, and effective co-operationresulted. By the courtesyof the/...

- 15of the Union Public Health D,partment, our Medical Officer of Health was able tospend a few days with the Chief Malaria Officer of the Union and his team atTzaneen and, as a result, much useful knowledge in modern anti-malariatechnique was acquired. Quinine was also distributed to district traders for saleto the public at twenty tablets for one shilling.Apart from tuberculosis, the incidence of which still gives cause for concern, nodisease assumed epidemic proportions, the number of cases of whooping cough,pneumonia, influenza and other infections approximating the normal incidence atthis time of the year.General.The X-ray plant at Maun is now functioning and is proving of inestimable valuein the Ngamiland district. The next aim is to establish a modern plant atFrancistown to serve that area. When this has been accomplished, there will be

modern plants at each of the Government hospitals at Lobatsi, Serowe, Maun andFrancistown.A Hospital Visiting Committee on the lines of that functioning at Serowe, whichdid useful work during the year, has now also been established at Maun. Thework of the Committee at Serowe was recently reviewed at a meeting attended bymembers of the Committee, Chief Tshekedi, the District Commissioner, theMedical Officers and the Acting Director of Medical Services. Plans wereformulated which it is hoped will enhance the usefulness of the Committee.With the assistance of the Education Department, astart has also been made with the introduction into the hospital: of occupationaltherapy on a small scale and other amenities to avoid boredom duringconvalescence.Additional African staff quarters have been built at Serowe, Lobatsi, Mahalapye,and Maun. Plans to provide additional in-patient accommodation at Maun havebeen approved and it is hoped that building operations will start very shortly.We will now adjourn.Council adjourned at 11.0 a.m.Council resumed at 2.35 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, the 25thAugust, 1948.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:The first question we have to approach is that of a member to represent theBasubia residents in the Crown Lands near Kachikau. The name HeadmanSimvula has been put forward. We will take the matter on the basis of a memberfor the Chobe without specifying names and I wculd like Council's views on thismatter- May I ask if it is agreed that we should haveamongst our members a member from the Chobe Crown Lands? Perhaps those infavour would please raise their hands.Do I take it then that there are only three members who are in favour of this? Willthose against the proposal please raise their hands.(One member voted against)The/...

-. 16 -The voting seems to be a little ambiguous, so perhaps we had better leave thematter for the time being.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAPIALETE):Your Honour, before discussing this question of the appointment of arepresentative for the Basubia, I would ask Your Honour to refer to theConstitution of this Council.RESIDENT GOMMISSIONER:Yes, I see the point, I have the Constitution here.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, I feel it a disadvantage to speak now about the question of anappointment of a representative from the Basubia as the member of the Basubia isalready at the meeting of this Council.

RESIDENT COMISSIONERDo I assume then that Council leaves it to me to exercise or not to exercise as Ithink right my powers under the Constitution?KGOSI MOLEFI PILANE (BAKGATLA):Your Honour, I feel that the matter has been referred to this Council in the formof a vote and three or more people put up their hands to say they were in favour ofa representative being approinted from the Basubia area and only one was against,and taking it that way I feel that the vote has been taken and we have expressedour views there.RESIDENT COMISSIONER:Shall we then pass on to the, first item on the original Agenda? "Abolitionof barter system except betweenNatives." A note has been circulated to Councillors and Government would bevery pleased to know what conclusions Council has come to on the matterKGOSIMOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, in accordance with the practice of this Council it is usual for thisCouncil to reply to your Honour's Address as soon as we are able to do so, andalthough we are not quite ready we had arranged.that we would say something toYour Honour in reply before commencing with the items. We have made certainresolutions and we have selected certain headings or items which we wanted tosay to Your Honour as the Council progresses and we know that if we are notaltogether ready we shall have an opportunity of rcplying to Your Honour'sAddress before Council closes.RESIDENT COMIISSIONER:Would it not be preferable to take the easier of these matters .first since Iunderstand you to say that you are not quite ready to reply to my Address?KGOSI MOKGOSI III LBALALETE):If the other members of Council agree, I think that would be the best thing YourHonour.KGOSI BATHOEN II/...

- 17 -KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANKWAKETSE):Your Honour, I wish to make a request. I think the Chairman was making a slightmistake. We wanted to say certain matters before Council begins so that YourHonour would be preparing replies to the statements made. We are not quiteready to reply to the whole Address; there are certain matters we would like to putbefore Your Honour so that you can consider them and give us a reply beforeCouncil is overKGOSI MOKGOSI III (B!ZMALETE):I shall ask Chief Bathoen to read the paper which we have prepared Your Honour.I shall also make this request Your Honour that the typing is not very neat andafter reading the Address here we would like to re-type the document beforesubmitting it.RESIDENT CONDIISS IONER:Have you got it translated into English?

KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):It is in English.RES IDENT COM1ISS IONER:Have you got a copy that I can follow?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAUMALETE):No Your Honour; it is all muddled up.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, some of these matters that I am going to raise now are what wehave been able to take out of your Address to Council. These are thethings that Imentioned a few minutes ago:Building Programme.I have becn asked by Council to make a request tohis Honour the Resident Commissioner that it be furnished with a detailedbuilding programme for the years 1947 and 1948.Education.For many years menbers of this Council have observed that a number of theBechuanaland Protectorate people, who have graduated, do not seem to havefound employment in the Protectorate. Council is therefore pleased to note thatMiss G.K.T. Chiepe B.Sc. is today in the staff of the Education Department of theBechuandland Protectorate.Council wish to raise two points for consideration during this present session. (1)Two Africans, Miss G.K.T. Chiepe and Mr- S.H. Modisi have been appointed tothe itinerant staff and Council wishes to be enlightened as to the travellingfacilities provided these people to enable them to perform their duties efficiently.(2) Recently a panel of Education Officers was appointed to exa-mine and reporton the conditions of the middle schools in the Territory- In theirreport/...

- 18 -report they said that "it is no exaggeration to state that we cannot hope to retainwell qualified teachers in our schools without a fairly drastic upwardrevision ofour salary scales" and further they recorded that "the average life of the middleschool teacher is little more than one year". These statements coming as they arefrom such a source are very disquieting and they should act as a strong warnin'gto the Government. We apprehend that unless a salary afforded people of MissChiepe's education is attractive enough, we shall only have their services for alittle more. than one year.Council wishes to draw the attention of the Department of Education to theexample set up by the Medical Department, where, realising the, difficulty ofobtaining fully qualified staff nurses in any of their hospitals, they adopted thesalary scales of the Union of South Africa. This territory adopts three scales ofsalaries for their'people, the European, the Coloured, and the African.Council asks that a small committee composed of themembers of the Council and some officials of the Administration be appointed toconsider this point during the present session.

Middle Schools.It would appear that thz primary objects of establishing Middle Schools wereamongst others, to establish these where material was available for Middle schooltraining, and to afford relief to the Tribal Treasuries.With regard to the former, experience has now proved. that this is not alwayspracticable and with regard to the latter there is a definite change of Policy byGovernment and the whole relief is now less than half relief.Council requcest that the Committee suggested for the examination of salariesshould also consider the subject of the continuation of middle schools.Designation of Types of Schools.Council wishes to draw attention to the fact that of late new names have gainedcurrent use in describing the schools as existing today.The following names may be noted (a) Government Teacher Training Centre (b)Tribal Middle Schools.The necessity for these distinctive names is not apparent to members of theCouncil. They feel that in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, all schools establishedby the Tribes are Government schools and all schools established by Governmentare Tribal schools. The High Uommissioner's notice Number 110 of 1938 hasmade this point very clear, namely that (Section 24) "in purely professionalmatters the teacher shall be responsible to the Director of Education and to himonly".Education Officers.Of recent years there has been an increase of theheadquarters staff in the Department of Education. To assist tfie Director ofEducation we now have two Education Officers, one Agricultural EducationOfficer and one Homecrafts Education Officer- This development is appreciatedas it marks the improvement in our education system. It. is disheartening,however, to note, that in actual results our primary and middle schools/...

- 19 -schools far from showing marked improvement, have shown markeddeterioration.Council strongly feels that our present system ofeducation needs to be examined. It is strongly urged that the goatd of Advice onAfrican Education, which had its last meeting in 1941, should be convened toconsider the present educational system generally.Judging from discussions which Council had in committee there is considerableignorance amongst members as to the duties performed by the Education Officers.Consequently for the information and co-operation of Council a statement isrequested giving necessary explanation as to the duties performed by theEducation Officers.Foot and Mouth Disease.Council requests information as to the present monthly expenditure on themaintenance of cordons. The seriousness of the economic position of theBechuanaland Protectorate as affected by the outbreak of the foot and mouth

disease cannot, be too strongly emphasised. Consequently Council asks that asmall committee composed of members of Council and officials be appointed toconfer with his Honour, the Resident Commissioner, on the probable steps whichcan be taken to face the crisis.Doctors.Council is pleased to note that an African Medical Officer has been appointed tothe staff of the Medical Department.That there has been a discrimination in the appointment of this office could notpass unmarked by the members of Council. It is observed that the AfricanMedical Officer istoday the only doctor classed as an "Assistant Medical Officer" whereas it wouldappear that three other European doctors who also qualified the same year as theAfrican Medical Officer were appointed to the service about the same yedr but intheir case they are classed as iedical Officers and receive a commencing salary of"£600 as against £500 paid to the African Medical OfficerIf we have in any waystated the facts incorrectly we ask to be furnished with the correct statement offacts asto the status of the African people who may enlist as Medical Officers and theirsalary in comparison with the salaries of European Medical Officers who hold thesame qualifications and experienc e.RESIDENT COMIISS1ONER:Can we take the items now? Item 1 first?ABOLITION OF BARTER SYSTEM EXCEPT BETWEENNATIVES.A note has been circulated on this question and Government asks for the opinionof Council.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):lour Honour, we have discussed Item 1 amongst ourselkves and we see that it willbe to our advantage if what issuggested/...

-a 20-suggested there is carried out. Council has requested me to ask Government thatAfrican traders be exempted from the provisions of this law.R EI DENT COMMISSIONER:I note that request of course but When a man attains the status of a trader thennormally he would be expected to conform to trading practices or trading lawswhich are applicable to his fellow traders. The words "between Natives" heremeant merely transactions between private individuals. Anyway the view ofCouncil has been noted.Can we take these items in their present order?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Yes Your Honour, but items 2, 3 and 4 could be discussed together Sir.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:

Yes certainlyOn item 2 a note has been circulated and similarly a note from theBakw~ena has been circulated on item 3. Similarly a note has been circulated onitem 4.STOCK IMPROVEMENT -, CATTLE INDUSTRY - FUTUREPOLICY OF CATTLE IMPROVEMENT.The view of Government has been summed up in the note that has been circulatedunder Item 2 and I think probably themost important passage in that note is the second part of the first sentence inparagraph 2. I think it is quite idle to try to bring about improvement in anyenterprise until we havefirst created the physical and mental. conditions under which that enterprise hassome hope of success. As this note says, the first thing to do is to improve theenvironment and until the environment has improved it is a waste of time andmoney to-ntroduce more specialised products and so on which can only fail under thepresent environment.Another thing I hope Council will bear in mind, and that is that the financialfuture is still extremely obscureand Government has to concentrate on immediate contingencies aqd is thereforenot in a position to undertake any grandiose projects, but I expect Council hasconsidered the suggestionsand Government would be very grateful to hear them.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, we are some of the people who have put in this item in connectionwith the improvement of cattle in the Protectorate. We put this item on theAgenda, Yourl onour, because some of the Cattle Improvement Centres in the Territory havebeen closed down. It was because some of thesecamps have been functioning for some years but no improvement was apparentand it is not the intention of the tribes to leave altogether cattle improvement.Now we put this item on the ;Agenda, Your Honour, in order that the Governmentmay give us a statement as to how theGovernment proposes to assist these tribesin the improvement of their cattle. Just now we have beard from Your Honourthat it will be idle to buy good products and cattle without first of all improvingthe environmentand/...

- 21 -and when we hear Your Honour mention this we feel very happy to hear it.In the note that was circulated from the Government I see that three things havebeen mentioned as being essential for the improvement of the cattle industry.These three things are breeding, feeding and management. The last word"management" we learn from those who know more about agriculture and animalhusbandry that until we have certain rotational grazing areas we cannot hope tohave marked improvement. They also

told us that we should feed out stock. I do not know exactly what is meant,whether we are to prepare to feed our cattle or to have certain areas where we cangraze our cattle in rotation.What we feel in the Protectorate is this, that we can never be able to manage thisbecause all that we need is water. There are many areas where cattle have neverbeen taken to graze because there is not water in those areas. If water could befound in those areas we would be able to take our cattle tothose areas and they would be spread over those areas.The other thing which I was sad to hear from Your Honour is that theGovernment has no funds available and thatwhat funds the Government has will be used for more urgent and essentialprojects.RESIDEN T COMMISS IONER:May I interrupt? When I said it has not any moneyI qualified that by saying "for any grandiose projects", meaning for cattleimprovement. I do not mean to say that Government has no money to find water- it has and is so doing.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):I have already expressed satisfaction Your Honour tohear that something is being done about water. I want to speak about those tribeswhich have no bull camps or Cattle Improvement Centres because they will havenowhere to buy bulls and in that way their cattle improvement will sufferI wouldlike to ask the Government whether they have in mind a scheme as to where thesetribes would be able to buy bulls. In the Cattle Improvement Centres that we hadwe found that the bulls from these centres were not very suitable for improvementof our cattle. That is why some of the tribes decided quite quickly to close downthese centres.Our difficulties are these Your Honour: If a tribesman wants to go to the Unionto buy a bull, the first questionwe ask is to what particular breeder will he go, will he go to a breeder who wouldbe able to pay attention to the needs ofthe Afr4can? We also feel Your Honour that the expenses will be very high if anindividual goes on his own to buy one bull. We would ask whether theGovernment could not arrange for enquiries to be made and then the Governmentfind the bulls for the people who want them.I remember one occasion there were some ranchers in TSouth West Africa whowere selling their cattle. Our Government at that time bought those bulls and putthem at Ramathlabama and some of our people bought them from there. That iswhy Iput this suggestion and request Your Honour.KGOSI MOLEFI PILANE/...

- 22 -KGOSI MOLEFJ PILANE (BaKGATLA):

Your Honour, before you reply to Chief Bathoen I wish to say something, that isto contradiqt what he says. The Government has an official at Gaberones, M4r-Watermeyer, and it is for the individual to go to that officer and the Governmentis prepared to assist the people to buy bulls if'these people go to the official atGaberones. Not that the Government has to buy but it is for the individualhimself to go and get the bull. I can cite a case in point. One of my people,Maganelo, bought a bull which came from the Union. What I would like to askYour Honour is why was it found necessary that these bull camps or CattleImprovement Centres should be closed down? What has happened? Was it notbecause the tribes concerned were slow to look after these bull camps? We havebulls Your Honodr .-hich we can sell, which have been purchased by many peoplewho have improved their cattle.fow if bulls are required from the Union, there is a camp that is being run by theUnion Government which is a bull camp only,. which is in the Ganskuil district inthe Transvaal. If people Want bulls why cannot they just go there and selec.tbulls? I feel that J.s what I have to say about that.RESIDENT COMISS IONER:I think I can give an answer to all the questionsraised. The first question, as to what Government is intending to do aboutlivestock improvement - the first thing is that with such C6lonial DevelopmentFund monies as we have we are going to attempt to find water. I invite theCouncillors' attention to paragraph 4 of the note circulated by Government, inwhich it says, very rightly, that the solution of the livestock problem rests in thehands of owners of livestock themselves. Government will give all the advice itpossibly can through its officers and it is up to the owners of livestock to take thatadvice if they want better cattle.T agree with Chief Molefi that people are in a positioni to buy their own bulls ifthey so wish, and I am assured by the Principal Veterinary Officer that if anybodyis in doubt as to what he should do in the matter he has only to ask for advice.A. regards the Livestock Improvement Centres, thereason why the tribes closed them down was, I understand, that in many casesthey were not a success for one reason or another, but I am hoping that theacceptance of the expert's advice by the people as to the management of theirstock will prove to be a better substitute. I think that answers those questions asbest I am able.KGOSI MOKGOSI II (BAI4ALETE):I do not know Your Honour whether any member of Council now has anything toask, as there are three items grouped together- Perhaps a member of Councilmay have something to ask.RESIDENT COT.fl1ISSIONER:Item 5 comes into it too, and 6. I take it thatloans to Native Administrations for construction of cattle dips would be for thoseNative Administrations who are not able to afford them themselves?

- 23 -

LOANS TO NATIVE ADMINISTRATION FOR CONSTRUCTION OFCATTLE DIPPING TANKS.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour that is so, but this Council went further than that. They made anote which they have asked me to read to Your HonourCouncil supports theproposal made by the Bamalete. It adds that the policy to render assistance in theforms of advances by obtaining materials for the Tribal Administrations should beconsidered by Government.RESIDENT CO131ISSIONER:I see that as far back as 1943 the principle of carefully regulated dipping wasaccepted as a factor in the reduction of disease. Government would be preparedto consider any request by Native Administrations not able to afford its own dips.That is the answer to that question.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):I would like to put a question Your Honour. Now if the tribe has got the fundswhere will we be able to find the people to erect the dip? Can the Governmentprovide Government builders?RESIDENT CONiISSIONR:Government would give assistance when and where it could. Linked with this isitem 6, to which the Principal Veterinary Officer has replied, I think in acirculated memorandum.Mr. Chairman, there is now the question of co-operation between the VeterinaryDepartment and the Native Authorities from the Bakwena.CO-OPERATION BETWEEN VETERINARY DEPARTMENTAND NATIV9 AUTHORITIES.MR. THUKHWI SELWE (BAKWENA):Your Honour, this comes as a complaint because of the delay experienced bythose who have charge of operations connected with stock. This delay isresponsible for the losses which have come about and it has hurt the feelings ofthe tribes. These are the sicknesses of anthrax and quarter evil. Sometimes thedelay is in the supply of vaccines which come during the ploughing season havinglost time during more suitable times which have been arranged before then. Itmay be two or even three years that we have not inoculated cattle against quarterevil and it is beginning to show signs in the country of the Bakwena. This is thecomplaint which has necessitated this item being put on the Agenda of thisCouncil.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:Let me get it plainly, a delay in furnishing vaccines?MR. THUKHWI SELWE/...

- 24 -MR. T UKHWI SELWE (BAKWENA):In connection with anthrax, it is delay in supplyingthe vaccines, Your Honour, and in connection with quarter evil we get novaccines at all.

RESIDENT COMMISS IO NER:I will ask the Principal Veterinary Officer to reply on behalf of Government.PRINCIPAL VETERINARY OFF ICER:Your Honour, Members of Council: I shall be glad to go into the details of thiscomplaint with the proposer at some other time. In respect of the delay insupplying anthrax vaccilM to the Bakwena Reserve this has probably been in thepast due particularly to the fact that we have not had a Stock Inspector stationed atMolepolole for the Bakwena Reserve. This area has been supervised by the StockInspector at Gaberones. It has long been realised that a Stock Inspector should bestationed at Molepolole. Recently one was engaged and stationed at Jiolepolole.Unfortunately, owing to the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease this officerhas had to be transferredto the Palapye District temporarily. So soon as the foot and mouth campaignallows us to do so, he will return to the Bakwena Reserve and Molepolole and it isthen hoped that thereafter therl will be no cause for such complaint.In regard to the complaint about the Bakwena Reserve not being inoculatedagainst quarter evil for the past two or three years, I would remind members thatquarter evil inoculatiol up to the present time has been a matter for privateenterprise insofar as the payment for quarter evil vaccines is concerned. I am notclear whether the complaint is that vaccine has been paid for and ordered and notreceived - I should be very surprised to hear that that is so. If it is not so, then Isuggest that the fault for inoculations not having taken place is that of the ownersthemselves.MR. THUKHE SELWE (BAKWENA):I am very grateful, Your Honour, if this can be so.We will be very happy if the supplies of vaccines ,will be available at Gaberonesbecause usually there are no stocks of it there, Your Honour, and we would bevery grateful if the supplies of vaccines were available at Gaberones and if aLivestock Ofcicer is stationed at Molepolole there will be no delay.MR. MOTHI PILANE (BAKGATLA):Your Honour, I stand up to endorse what the lastspeaker said in connection with the delay in the supply of vaccines. We in theBakgatla Reserve go to pains to inoculate calves and cattle and when the timecomes when we feel that the calves should be inoculated, we find that there is novaccine available and we go to the trouble of even going so far as to order thevaccines for ourselves from Pietersburg. I wish to point out this Your Honourthat it is not everyone who has the' sense to order vaccine from elsewhere. Ourwish is this that from some time in March Your Honour vaccines should beavailable in the Protectorate. I feel that there is delayexperienced/...

- 25 -experienced even in connection with anthrax vaccines, even where there areGovernment Officers who are stationed within easy reach.

Last year I could not get vaccines and I came to the Veterinary office in Mafekingand had to buy the vaccines here. These were vaccines for anthrax. That is why Iendorse the last speaker, because this year many people lost cattle in the BakgatlaReserve. We lost cattle and I also lost some and even when I had inoculatedthem I still lost some and felt that the vaccine itself was perhaps responsible forsome losses. I went running to the Livestock Officer- I found at that time thatmany cattle had died and the vaccines were in the office. When I applied for thevaccine, I was informed by the Veterinary Officer that no one is permitted to takethe' vaccine. He said that the vaccine was to be taken or delivered to the cattleguards. I asked when the vaccine would be supplied because it appeared vaccinewas there and the cattle guards had not come for it and what time it had beenarranged for the campaign to start and he said he would allow me to have thebottles because he knew me and when I took these bottles several cattle hadalready died. Although I did not desire to say this here today, I wish toemphasise that the delay is great.KGOSI MOLEFI PILANE (BAKGATLA):I shall give a reply to the last speaker, Your Honour,. Insofar as the BakgatlaReserve is concerned, I think the last speaker is making a mistake. If one doesnot himself take the trouble of looking for the vaccine how is the Government toknow that his cattle are dying. All of us had. our cattle inoculated and our cattlehave not died because we asked the Government that the vaccine be supplied tous. If you do not make the request and you do not write a letter to theGovernment how is the- Government to know? Can you show us a letter that youwrote to the Veterinary Department?Your Honour,. I wish to say in Council that this is due to our own delay- Theowner of the cattle is the one who should look after his cattle.RESI DENT COI4MISSIONER:I don't think it would be profitable further topursue this discussion. I am assured by the Principal Veterinary Officer that anyapplications for vaccines of this description will be very promptly dealt with,provided the local official of the Department is notified.May we adjourn for tea now, Mr- Chairman?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAALETE):Yes Sir.Council adjourned at 4 p.m.

- 26 -Council resumed at 4.20 p.m.RESI DENT COMMISS IONER:We have a Government item here, this question of branding of stock, andCouncil's views are sought on this question.DISTINCTIVE BRANDING OF STOCK ALONG THE BORDER.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, in connection with item 7, although we have some fears, brieflythese are our conclusions.

We have .a fear that this would be a distinctive brand for those cattle belonging toan jifrican.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:The proposal extends to both European and African cattle.KGOSI MOLEFI PILANE (BAKGATLA):Your Honour, I would like to know what is meant by these words "along theBorder". I would like to know if the people, say in the Kalahari, are not affectedby this.RES IDENT COMMIS3IO NER: AIThe answer to Chief Molefi's question is that it is all borders, the Union andSouthern Rhodesia.KGOSI MOLEFI PILANE (BAKGATLA):Your Honour, I would like to know whether the intention of this is to preventsmuggling only along the Transvaal and the Rhodesian Borders. I would suggestYour Honour thatthe whole Protectorate be included by saying "all districts".RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:I will ask the Principal Veterinary Officer presently to reply to -the questions putby members. Is there any other member who wishes to voice an opinion on thequestion?MR. GABOLEBYE D. MAROBELE (BAMA&NGWATO):Your Honour, I am unable to express an opinion onthis item because we do not quite understand it. In the first place we do not knowwhat brand it is intended to use in branding these cattle and another thing wewould like to point out is that cattle often stray even from within the Territory, it.,.is not only those cattle on the Border that go astray, because it appears that theintention is just to brand those along the Border. Many a time in our countrywhere rains are very scarce cattle travel many miles if they smell that it has rainedsomewhere, that is why we fail to understand this item and we do not know whatthe intention is. Even people who have registered brands may have three lettersor three symbols and it may so happer that if this additional brand is acceptedthere will be many brands on the same hindquarters of' the beast. With some of usour fear grows when we hear this item. if our cattle bear such a distinctive brandwhen they get to themarkets/...

- 27 -markets in Johannesburg they will discover that these are Protectorate cattle andwe would be grateful for an explanation Your Honour so that when we speak wewill speak with full knowledge.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:Perhaps the best thing I could do would be to ask the Principal Veterinary Officerto give some words in explanation and then get on with the rest of the Agenda and

then come back to this one when Council has been able to think over itfurtherWould that be satisfactory?KGOSI NOKGOSI III (BAIVIALETE):Yes Your Honour.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:Would you just explain the purpose of this?PRINCIPAL VETERINARY OFFICER:Your Honour and members of Council, it is I think the responsibility of cattleowners to ensure that their cattle are not illegally moved or allowed to stray intoneighbouring territories. Continuous trouble is caused by this straying of cattleand the purpose of this item on the Agenda was to discover Council's views as tothe use of branding in helping to prevent this straying of cattle, or rather that suchcattle that have strayed could easily be identified and returned. It would of coursealso have a bearing on the question of smuggling.A system of distinctive branding indicating the districts from which the cattle arederived has been under consideration for some considerable time and if this isadopted it would do away with the suggestion about distinctive branding along theborders. It is then a part of our policy to do everything possible to prevent thestraying or illegal movement ofcattle from one country to another and there are good and sufficient veterinaryreasons for this.One point that one speaker raised - a very good one was the question of too manybrands. That is one of the difficulties that will have to be overcome. It is just thatI wished to get Council's view on the possibility of applying some system ofdistinctive brands along the borders of the Territory and possibly also throughoutthe TerritoryRESIDENT COMMISSIONERPerhaps Members ha.ving heard thePrincipal Veterinary Officer will consider the matter and we might come back toit before the end of Council.Shall we takc No 8?AGRICULTURAL DEMONSTRATORS.Members have had a ircular- There is a small financial difficulty in connectionwith African Agricultural Demonstrators. The point is that if these public servantswere seconded to a Native Administration, there is a danger they might cease toenjoy certain privileges which they do enjoy under Government and the opinionof Council is asked as to how that difficulty can be solved.GOVERNMENT/...

GOVERNMENT SECRETARY:Your Honour, I propose that possibly it might be acceptable to NativeAdministrations if Government were to bear the difference in the emoluments, theNative Administration paying the salary and Government paying the amount ofthe cost of living allowance and footing the bill for leave and so on.RESIDENT COMIIISSIONER:I think possibly in this case perhaps it is hardly a matter for Council at all.Perhaps it would be better, when any such case arises, that financial arrangements

be made between Government and the Native Administrations concerned, whichwould be satisfactory to both.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, we have arranged a statement to make on this matter and I wouldask that that be read to Your Honour.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, before reading the views of Council on this matter, I would like toask a question in connection with what was said by the Government Secretary.When the Government Secretary said that it might be so arranged that the tribewill meet the salary and that the other allowances be paid by Government. Inconnection with this matter, salary scales between people who started work withthe.Government and those who started work with the African Administrations, thepay differs. The Government pays higher salary scales, as in the case of the oneat Kanye. What I would like to know is if we take over these officials from theGovernment as suggested, would salary scales remain on the Government scalesor will they have to go according to African Administration scales? We couldnot consider this matter Your Honour as what was said by the GovernmentSecretary did not appear in the note circulated to members of Council.RES IDENT COMISS IONER:As regards the question asked by Chief Bathoen, I think it is quite clear that if anyman in public service is seconded to some organisation other than the one thatrecruited him, then he should not be forced to accept a lower salary than thatwhich he previously drew. The Financial Secretary has' made another suggestionto me, which also does not appear there and that is that it might be moreconvenient for the Tribal Administration to make a contribution to theGovernment equivalent to what they would pay the man and that Governmentshould continue to pay him at the same rate as that at which he was previouslybeing paid.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, I would ask that we be allowed to read our Resolution inconnection with this item.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Council wishes to point out that it is unusual for Agricultural Demonstrators to betransferred from Government service to the service of the Tribal Administrations.In theirknowledge/...- 28 -

- 29 -knowledge only one case can be quoted and this is a case where the duties to beperformed by the Agricultural Demonstrators were extraordinary. These were inconnection with the Irrigation Scheme at Kanye. Council feels that this particularcase should be dealt with on it own merits.Council desires to take this opportunity to bring to

the notice of Government that it is the view of the Tribes that AgriculturalDemonstrators' work has proved a failure and Council strongly asks that theirservices should be discontinued throughout the Territory. There are variouscauses for this unfavourable work, the principle of which is that the type oftraining which they have received is entirely unsuited to the BechuanalandProtectorate.RESIDENT COWMISSIONER:As the particular point involved in the original motion has no reference to thework of the Demonstrators, I stillthink that in the rare case of that Demonstrator - or for that matter any otherofficial - being transferred to a Native Administration, the matter is one fornegotiation between the Native Administration, the Government and the manconcerned.Over the more general question of the value of these Demonstrators, I dont thinkit is a thing that I want to go into now. It is not on the Agenda and I won't ask thePrincipal Agricultural Officer to reply, but the opinion of Council that these menare not pulling their weight is, of course, noted. If there is an opportunity beforethis Council closes, I would like to have a meeting, whether with the Committeeor with thewhole Council, on this question raised by the Chief and perhaps the PrincipalAgricultural Officer could find an opportunity of discussion with any memberswho may have views on the work of these people as to how if they are not anygood, their valuecan be improved.KGOSI BATHCEN II (BANGWAKETSE):We would be grateful of such an opportunity Your Honour.RESIDENT COMiISSIONER:The next item is this very important one of Grain Storage.A note has been circulated which I have no doubt Council has studied.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Excuse me Your Honour, I wish to make a request that perhaps we can go on toother lighter items before coming to this one?RESIDENT 0OMMISSIONER:Yes, anything you wish.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Items 14, 15, 20, 25, 28 and 30, Your Honour.RESIDENT!...

- 30 -RES IDENT COMMISSIONER:Right, then the first one is No. 14.DEFINITION OF MOTOR VEHICLE PLYING FOR HIRE.Have Members formed any opinion on this matter? The question at issue is howfar we should extend the meaning of the words "plying for hire".GOVERNMENT SECRETARY:

The object is to prevent every Tom, Dick and Harry plying for hire and it wouldenable Government to control the nature of vehicle used and we could eventuallyforce people to provide more suitable vehicles for carrying passengers - those whoset out to carry passengers entirely. We have got rather away from the dayswhen passengers sat on top of the bags of mealies.Then we come to a point of difficulty and that is we have a man who plies for hireand carries only passengers, then we have a man who carries goods and often hasroom for one or two passengers, and we don't know how we should define theterm "plying for hire". We feel it would be hard on the individual if he wereprevented from getting home fairly soon by getting on to a lorry meant forcarrying goods simply because the owner was not licensed to ply for hire.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:Have you been able to form any views on this matter? Would you perhaps let ushave them?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, we have discussed this item and I asChairman have been requested to express the opinion of Council. When wediscussed this matter in Committee, we encountered great difficulties, althoughthe item before Council is quite clear. We found that in some villages lorriesbelonging to traders only go to such villages and we found that there were no busservices to those villages except the traders in the course of their businessdealings, and we found that it was for the benefit of the prople to go on that lorrytb their villages and to come by that lorry to their stations, and it appears thatwhen some of the traders heard about this new law they refused to take passengersand many people suffered as a result and we felt that although the law may havebeen designed to safeguard the interests of the people we fail to see that theywould benefit if this law was introduced.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:In other words, Council would like us to interpret the words 'plying for hire" fairlyliberally?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, we would ask that: this special fee for plying for hire be written offaltogether, so that there would be no fee imposed for lorries plying for hire. It ispossible in certain places, such as from Lobatsi to Kanye, where there are bussesand just lorries for goods, and perhaps it will also bepossible/...

- 31 -possible with lorries from Molepolole to Gaberones and perhapswith lorries from Pilane to Mochudi and with buses from Palapye to Serowe and Ikeep on saying perhaps.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:dell, Government will have to consider the question in the light of Council'sopinion.

Item 15 is the next, the question of inter-district tax collections, raised by theBakwena.INTER-DISTRICT TAX COLLECTIONS.KGOSI KGARI SECHELE II (BAKWENA)::Your Honour, i am responsible for item 15 and when I brought it before Council itwas with this object in view. Sometimes we fail to achieve good collections in ourvillages in the Protectorate and I put it on th. Agenda of this Councilso that I may have a discussion with the Chiefs and other tribes, so that we canhelp one another, as our people go away from our tribes and go and live in otherdistricts.My idea, Your Honour, in placing this matter before Council is that when amember of a tribe goes to another district the Chief of that district should ensurethat this man does pay tax and that he is not merely hiding in that district. Ithappens quite frequently that a man leaves Serowe and comes to live inMolepolole or leaves Kanye and comes to Molepololeand when we see him we take it for granted that he is paying tax in his own homeand it turns out eventually perhaps that he is not paying tax at all in any districtand he is a defaulter in his own district. This is what happens in our villagesYour Honour and we discussed this in Committee Your Honour and we agreedthat we would assist one another in these matters of tax collections because this iswhat happened in all our districts, and we now wish to make sure that thesepeople do pay taxes. This is the suggestion I place before Council.RESIDEVT COMMISSIONER:Do I understand that this refers both to people who change their domicilepermanently as well as to people who hop from one side or other of theboundaries as the Tax Collector comes?KGOSI KGARI SECHELE II (BAKWENA):Your Honour, this particularly refers to people who, when they hear that the TaxCollector is coming, run away from one district to the other and they live in thevillage for about three years and then run away again to another place and do notpay, We do not particularly mean people who removepermanently.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, in the name of this-Council we are all agreed with the suggestion ofthe Bakwcna that we should assist and that every tribe should take upon itself tofind all thesepeople who are strangers or visitors, to make certain that they pay taxes.These/...

- 32 -These people may be divided into two or three classes;there are those people who go from one place to another, running away from TaxCollectors, there are people whose positions are well established, such as teachers,there are Government

employees who may have gone to that particular district on transfer, and althoughthose people are seen and are known to be there, it sometimes happens that theydo not pay taxes and are actually in default in the payments of taxes in their owndistricts.This may perhaps appear to be amusing but it is what exists and the Chiefs havetaken upon themselves that they will investigate and make sure that these peopledo pay.The other thing is in connection with the collection of Government taxes. Therewas the Special Levy which we contributed during the war years. Some of theCommissioners and Revenue Officers did not care very much to help collect thislevy. We received much of our help from Johannesburg wherewe used to send levy books and ask that we be assisted in the collection of thislevy. Now in the near future we will beembarking upon the collection of two taxes, the basic Government tax and theTribal tax and the two Administrations need this money. This Council puts therequest to the Government that wherever the Government collects, assistanceshould be given to collect these levies as well.RESIDENT COMISSIONER:Were you thinking of Johannesburg particularly?KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Not Johannesburg, Your Honour, but in the villages in our homes in theProtectorate.RESIDENT COVMISSIONER:I undertake that officers of Government will give every proper assistance to theAdministrations in collecting. taxes where it appears desirable that Governmentshould do so. I am not quite clear where Government is expected tp ,pollect orwhat areas the Chief has in mind?KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, I said in all the districts in the Protectorate. When perhaps a manfrom the Bamangwato District goes to the District Commissioner's office to paytax, the clerksthere accept the Government Tax but they do not demand from himthe Special Levy- I have observed that when I getadvices from other districts it does not show that the Special Levy has beencollected from the payer- We ask the Government to assist by demanding theSpecial Levy from all payers who come to pay on behalf of their districts.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:As I understand it, one of the difficulties has been the legal position as regards theLevy but in any case I can assure Council on behalf' of the Administration thatevery effortwill be made to co-operate.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Thank you Your HonourRESIDENT/...

RES IDENT COMMISSIG NER:Now we jump a great many items and we get to No.20?

KGOSI MOKGOSI III (B MALET&):Yes.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:It is the question of tho song and it comes from the Bamalete.NATIONAL SONG OF PRAYER - SUITABILITY OF"KGOSI TSHEGOFHATSA AFRIKA".KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, I do not think this will be a long item as there are no difficultiesabout it at all. We feel,, Sir, that having discussud this amongst ourselves, this isa suitable song for us as well, being tribes of Africa. We would just point out thatthe word "Kgosi" there is unsuitable and we would like to replace it by putting theword "Modimo" which is "God", so that it would run "God Bless Africa".RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:I don't know whether the Author would agree with your taking liberties with histext, but I am sur; it sounds very suitable.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):We feel that in the translation from the Xosa "Nkosi" really means "God" in thiscase.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:Well I cannot say more but as far as I can see the song as amended by the Chiefseems to be very suitable.We then make another big jump to No.25. It comes from the Bakwena.TRADE MONOPOLY.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, this item stands in the name of theBakwena. This Council considered this item fully. We suggested that this itembe dhanged and a more suitable title inserted - instead of "Trade Monopoly" wesuggest that it should read "Grocery Licences". We found that this was too wide aterm and we shall make it short by just calling it "GroceryLicences". !In the Protectorate, it is Government policy, as well as the policy of the Chiefs,that an African should have a chance in trade if it is possible but we find greatdifficulty for a small man to take out a General Dealer's.Licence. As we oncerequested in this Council in past years, this Councilstill makes strong representations and requests that some other method beexplored and found whereby an African can start a Grocery business. ve havesmall villages outside and these villages are far from trading stores and it becomesnecessary for/...- 33 -

- 34 -for an individual when he wants a very small item, such as soapor perhaps a bottle of paraffin, to walk long distances, and it is in these smallvillages, though also in the bigger ones, that we request that an African be given

an opportunity to open a business of a grocer- We know that our Governmentsay thereis no provision for such a licence in the Protectorate and we place this request toYour Honour that Government should look for a method by which this licencecould be introduced.RESIDENT CO1,ISSI ONER:Could you remind me what is the reason why an African cannot take out aGeneral Dealer's Licence? Is it the costof a licence or the cost of stocking up?KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Both Your Honour, the cost of the licence as well as the cost of the stock-in-trade.KGOSI KGARI SECHELE II (BAKWENA):Your Honour, as the last speaker has told you, it isfor those two reasons that we ask that there should be this special licence for agrocer, and we feel that those of us who have a desire to open up on a small scalelike that we cannot get a chance. If an application is made to open up anotherGeneral Dealer's Licence, I will be told that there are already five traders inMolepolole and that is sufficient for the needs of the people and no additionalstore can be opened, or at any other centre where there may be a store. We feelsure that if the law is amended so that there can be a business of a grocer, it willassist in the small villages outside as well as in the big villages, as mentioned byChief Bathoen, because we cannot all have General Dealer's Licences in all theseplaceEWe particularly ask that the law be amended YourHonour to allow for a Grocery business for the reasons advanced so that peoplewill not have to walk long distances to buy small items, as mentioned by the lastspeaker.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:I want Council to give me a day or two to think this over, as I don't want tocommit myself at the.moment. If Council will give me time to consider it, I willtry to make some statement before the end of Council.We now have item 28, which is a question of assist'Ance to TribalAdministrations.ASSISTANCE TO TRIBAL ADMINISTRATIONS TO OBTAIN GOODS INBOND.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, last year a circular was sent fromMafeking after discussion in the District Commissioner's Conference about ourtribus buying goods at specially reduced priceb. In this circular I have here it isstated that it has been found impracticable to purchase stores ex bond for TribalAdministrations.I do not feel satisfied when I see this Your Honourbecause/...

- 35 -

bedause I maintain that the Tribal Administrations, and the Tribes as they are, area part of this Government of ours. I cannot think that the Government, when ourTreasuries started,considered us to be something else than part of Government. I can say this thatwhen we still had what was called the Native Fund, the Government used to buyon our behalf and although Icannot show evidence of it I feel that the Government bought whatever it boughtfor us at specially reduced prices.I do not understand why it is now that the Treasuries have come to fall into ourhands that we have been denied this privilege of buying goods in bond. It iseasier for the officials of our Government to advise us as to the best way ofobtaining goods cheaply- We just have to look after the money and theGovernment is to advise us and show us how best we can spend it.Your Honour, I would request the Government to think of a device whereby wecan buy goods in bond, as was done in the past before these Treasuries wereestablished.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:What particular goods has Council in mind? Fuel especially I imagine?KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, I do not know what particular goods but we would like any goodsthat the Government can supply to be bought ex bond.RESIDENT COMMvISSIONER:Well the matter was raised during the High Commissioner's visit to theProtectorate. I need hardly say that Government is entirely sympathetic to thisrequest but it is notthought that the Union Government, with whom we are very largely interlockedas regards customs matters, would agree. Nevertheless I will make a formalapproach.The Native Administrations are, as the Chief says apart of Government. They carry out most important functions ofGovernment and it seems logical that in carrying out these functions they shouldenjoy the same privileges as regards thepurchase of materials which enables them to do so as Government does.One suggestion that has been made is that we narrow down the definition offunctions to particular duties in *hich the Native Administrations can definitely besaid to be acting directly on behalf of Government. The distinction would, ofcourse, be quite arbitary and quite artificial, but at the same time it might bepossible to take, for example, a water-boring programme carried out by the NativeAdministration, or even food distribution, seed distribution or something of thatkind, andsay in that respect the Native Administration is fulfilling the function thatGoVernment would, but for the presence of the Native Administration, have toperform itself. In that case it would be quite justifiable for the NativeAdministration to Put in to Government an indent and estimate for the amount offuel or material of any kind that it requires for that particular job and forGovernment to obtain it in bond.

I will/...

- 36 -I will put up the general question again - I think it has been put up once - and if Ifail in getting a comprehensive removal of customs duties on goods required bythe Native Administration then I will put it up on the modified lines that I havejust desdribed. I am afraid that is the best I can do for the moment.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Thank you SirRESIDENT CMISSIONER:The last of our items is the question of purchase of uniforms for tribal employees,proposed by the Bangwaketse.PURCHASE OF UNIFOIMS THROUGH GOVERNMENT FOR TRIBALEmPLOYEES.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour; briefly, this matter was agreed to by Council. de note thedifficulties encountered by our Tribal Administrations in connection with thepurchase of uniforms for its 'employees. It is difficult for each Administration toobtain suitable uniforms yearly because they have to buy them in small lots. Wefeel that, if we come together as tribes and ask the Government to order in bulkfor us, we might be assisted greatly.We have all agreedthat as tribes we will use the same uniforms for our Police, etc.If there is anything that any tribe perhaps would like to have as a distinctive mark,they can make that for themselves. We would like to know whetherthe Government will accede to our request so that we may place our orders andthen the Government can find this for us, and when these uniforms are receivedby us we can pay the GovernmentRESIDEIT COMMISSIONER:I am perfectly prepared to ask the Controller of Stores to investigate the system ofbuying clothing for the Tribal Administrations in bulk. I won't go into detailsnow, but in principle I agree and it will be for the Chiefs andAdministrations to work out some workable system with the Controller of Storesin-order that these things may be orderedin bulk on your behalf.Mr- Chairman, we are now approaching the end of the day, it is now a quarter tosix. Shall we adjourn until tomorrow morning?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Yes Your Honour.RES IDENT COMMISSIO NER:What time, 9.30?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Yes Your Honour, the time will be suitable - 9.30.RESIDENT/...

-037 -

RESI DENT COMMISSIONER:Very well, Council will adjourn until tomorrow morningat 9.30.Council adjourned at 5.45 p.m.Council resumed at 9.40 a.m. on THURSDAY, the 26thAUGUST, 1948.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:Which motion do we start with?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, I suggest that we begin with item 12and I will ask Chief Bathoen to read a memorandum that was prepared on thatitem.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):CONTRIBUTIONS BY NATIVE TREASURIES TOWARDS COSTOF MAINTENANCE OF MENTAL PATIENTS.Council is very amazed that a suggestion of thisnature should be made at all. In the agenda for this Council appears another itemput in by Government namely, item 8 which the explanatory note suggests thatTribal Administrations are asked to find ways and means of meeting the increasedwages ofcertain officials previously employed by Government and who may be secondedto Tribal Administrations. Again recently another circular was sent to TribalAdministrations in which a suggestion was made that the capital expenditurerequired for theTeacher Training Centre at Kanye might be found by the Tribal Administrations.Two points rerit serious consideration:(1) In the establishment of Tribal Treasuries wethought one of the primary objects of this is togive Tribal Administrations certain rights in theinitiation of what should be expended.' If thepolicy whereby certain undertakings are primarilyfinanced by Government, e.g. the Teacher TrainingCentre at Kanye and the Mental Patient Asylum atLobatsi and then suggestions made afterwards thatthese should be financed from Tribal Treasury fundsis persistently followed, this would deprive theTribal Administrations of the fundamental principles necessary to train them inthe duties of theAdministration of the country.(2) It seems unnecessary to Council that weshould draw the attention of Government to the fact that today the TribalTreasuries receive about 17%of the total revenues of the country whilst theCentral Government keeps back 83% (1946/47 figures).

That there should be an imposition of a big European Administration with all itsattendant departments over a native organisation is an absolute primary necessityin the Administration of the Protectorates and if this expenditure isdeduc ted/...

deducted from the general expenditure of the Bechuanaland Protectorateincluding expenditure by Tribal Administrations the actual expenditure devoted topublic duties mainly African who form the main population in the BechuanalandProtectorate,it will be seen that with this 1754 of the total revenues of the country greaterresponsibility is even today placed on Tribal Administratio ns.It is therefore a logical conclusion that where it becomes necessary that certainduties primarily established and financed by Government shoud be transferred toTribal Administrations the Government should also transfer additional funds toenable the Tribal Administrations to shoulder such increased responsibility.Council has noted that Native Authorities have been consulted and in most caseshave agreed to the proposal but that two Chiefs have proposed that the mattershould be discussed in Council, and consequently there appears to be amisunderstanding somewhere because during Council's debates in Committeeonly the Batawana intimated to Council that they had agreed to the proposal andthe rest of the tribes had not expressed their views.RES IDENT COMISSIUNER:I note that Council is against the proposal. Theposition is that we have a very limited accontmodation which at the moment isvery over-crowded and that some lunatics aredetained in gaols which is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs. We ban, Isuppose, carry on on our present standard but I must impress uponAdministrations, whom I hope will. impress it on the relatives of lunatics, thatwithout further revenue admissions .will. have to be restricted and I hope thatrelations and Tribal Administrations will be as cautious as possible in asking foradmission of lunatics. The only people that Government could possibly considerare people who are really dangerous to the lives of other people. Harmlessimbeciles must be the responsibility of the relatives.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (B.A ALETE):Your Honour, I suggest that we take item 11.RESIDENT CO1.4ISSIONER:Who is speaking on item 11?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, this is a Government item.RESIDENT COMISSIONER:Has Council discussed the proposal?PROPOSED INCREASE IN OUT-PATIENTS' FEES.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, we have discussed this proposal. I will ask Chief Bathoen toexpress the views of Council on this point.

KGOSI BATHOEN II/...- 38 -

- 39 -KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, we discussed this item in Committee. We have heard thedifficulties which the Government has encounteredin connection with the increased prices of things today and no one wouldcontradict the conditions as they exist and though we realise thhit thereare thesedifficulties we wish to put another difficulty before the Government.The 1/- fee appears to be very low when one comes to pay it in order that he maybe treated at the dispensary asit is obvious from the total revenue derived from that source. If things areinvestigated thoroughly, Your Honour, in the Protectorate it will be found thatmost of us do not have money at .all times, in fact some of us never have moneyat all and it issuch people~who need medical attention, as our Medical Officers have oftenexpressed. They may have a desire to go to the hospital for treatment, but theyfind themselves without money. This Council wishes to point out briefly that, ifthis fee of 1/- for out-patients is increased, it will debar many more people fromattending for medical treatment; the sickness will progress and the health of thepeople will suffer because of the increased fees. In brief, Your Honour, this isthe view of Council.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:Yes, I suppose that if a man were certified to be a poor man he would gettreatment free. Last year 216,000 people were treated in hospital and only37,000 paid the 1/fee, so something like 180,000 people were treated free, but it isnot a subject on which Government feels very strongly. But I think thatGovernment will have to come back to the matter again if the cost of drugs andinstruments increases to even more than it has. The Acting Director of Medical3ervices advises that even the other day there has been another jump, so I thinkthe matter can be shelved temporarily.KGOSI TSHEKEDI KHAMA (BAiMANGWATO):Your Honour, I would like to ask a question. I just learnt from the Director ofMedical Services that last year a certain number of patients were treated free. Iwould. like to know how the doctors come to know who are.poor people and whoare not poor people. I say this Your Honour, because I once raised this matter atmy home at Serowe and I was told that Government would not give free treatmentunless the fee of 1/was paid. This necessitated that out of our Treasury funds weset aside a sum-of £20. and when I have satisfied myself that the applicant is poorand has no way of paying these out-patient's fees, I give them 1/- out of thismoney which has been set aside. That is why I ami glad to hear today that somepeople are truated free, because in my home this consideration has not been given.RESIDENT CODDIISSIONER:

Perhaps the Director of Medical Services would say what test the doctors applyfor povertyDIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES:Your Honour and. Members of council; the figure of 185,O00 that Your Honourgave included paupers, included patients/...

- 40patients receiving treatment for venerial diseases, for which no charge is made, itincluded patients receiving treatment for bilharzia and leprosy for which nopayment is made, it included patients admitted to hospital for which no charge ismade and included patients treated for dressings, for which no charge is made. Apatient may have incurred a wound and have to go to hospital five or six times fortreatment and after he has paid the original 1/- no furthur chargc is rade.Many doctors are called out to seu patients in the villages some considerabledistance away from the hospitals. They do not ask first of all whether the patientis prepared to pay the expenses of their going out. They go out and after treatingthe patient and finding that the patient is unable to pay, they then put in a claim toGovernment for mileage, which we payThe Tledical Regulations stipulate that onproduction of a pauper's certificate no medical treatment can be refused anybodyand to my knowledge this has always been honoured.RESIDENT COT/IISSIONER:Who provides the pauper's certificate?DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES:The District Commissioners, on production of a letter from the Chief.RESIDENT COMISSIONER:That seems to bc the procedure you must follow to save your £20.KGOSI TSHEKEDI KHAMA (BAiANGWATO):I am very thankful Your Honour to have the advice.RESIDENT COMIiIISSIONER:As I told you ir. Chairman, I am proceeding to shelve this question and we mightcome back to it in future meetings.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, J suggest that we proceed with item -7In connection with this itemtoo, I have asked Chief Bathoen to speak on behalf of Council.DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, this..matter connected with marriages has worried us as Chiefs andDistrict Commissioners for a long time and in Committee we did not discuss it atany great length after, studying the note on this item by Govternment.We as Chiefs do not feel that we should grant divorcebecause to give divorce in marriages which have been contracted according to lawthere are certain difficulties which we see and experience. I cannot delay thisCouncil by giving, examples of these difficulties but one thing that this Councilrequests/...

- 41 -requests is juAt this, that in this Proclamation No.33/1943, BechuanalandProtectorate Native Courts Proclamation, Section 9,the Proclamation ordains that the Native Courts have no jurisdiction to hear caseswhere people have married according to the law of the Territory, and as weexpressed the opinion in last year's Council, we ask that we should be allowed toinvestigate these cases before thuy aro taken to the Court of the DistrictCommissioner. This Council asks that a section be inserCed in the main law toprovide for such procedure.The second thing is that after the case has beenbefore the Court of the District Commissioner it is referred to the Chief for thedistribution of the property.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:What was the division of opinion among District Commissioners? Were some infavour of such a procedure, because so far as I remember what the Chief has saidwas what was recommended at last year's Council and one District Commissionertold us that it was current practice. What is sought is a formal recognition in thelaw that the case should be investigated by the Native Tribunal before it goes tothe Resident Commissioner.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, I am sorry that Chief Molefi is not here, because he has expressed arequest that he be allowed to grant divorces in these cases. I mention this so thatit may be placed on record before you.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:We have your recommendation. The matter is rather a delicate one butGovernment will examine it very carefully in the light of the firmrecommendation of Council, taking note, too, of Chief Molefi's recommendation.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, I suggest that we proceed with item 18. This is a short item YourHonour and I can explain it.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:Yes.MARRIAGE BY SPECIAL LICENCE.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):In this item Your Honour, we would request thatDistrict Commissioners should not marry any couple unless they produce somecertificate from their Chief. We want these special marriages to follow exactlythe same procedure as in the law because we have experienced certain difficultiesand dangers attaching to such marriages.This Council requests that the District Commissioners should not marry anycouple unless they produce a certificate from the Chiefs that the marriage is inorderRESIDENT/...

,-42 7RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:

Looking gt Section 15 (2) of the Marriage Laws, which seems to cover that pointas regards ordinary marriages, Idon't think Government will have any difficulty in accepting that motion.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, I suggest that we take item 22, standing in the name of theBakwena. I shall ask Chief Kgari to speak on that.TELEGRAPHIC COI-,v UNICATIONS.KGOSI KGARI SECHELE II (BAKWENA):Your Honour, item 22 is an old matter- I think thisitem has been discussed before this Council even before I went on active service.In previous Councils this matter has been referred to quite frequently but I wish toimpress on theGovernment that this item is a very essential one in some districts, especially invillages which are far from railway stations, such as Gaberones and Aiolepololeand Kanye and Lobatsi. The time has now come when messages have become ofan urgent nature and when looking at this item 22 I see that the Government hadarranged for some expert to come from the Union to investigate the possibility oftho proposal embodied in this item. I felt very satisfied to see that theGovernment was considering this matter and Your Honour, I would request youand the Government to speed up the proposal as we will be worried unless we seethis being accomplished in the Territory- I am glad and grateful for the stepstaken by Your Honour in this connection.MR. M.A. MOAGI (BAMALETE):Your Honour, although Chief Kgari mentioned twoplaces only which is quite right, because of the distance, and though our home isnear the station there are things that we also miss. At times telegrams are sentand these remain atthe station and some of these telegrams convey urgent instructions fromGovernment, perhaps requiring that they would like to see the Thief to havecertain work performed. We also ask the Government to consider these placeswhich are near the railway line, that the Government should not forget them.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:Yes, as Chief Kgari has pointed out, we are expecting an expert to examine ourtelephonic and telegraphic requirements. His recommendations will be carefullyexamined both in relation to the wishes of Council and the needs of theinhabitants and also in relation to the financial situation in the Protectorate, andthe availability of materials.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, I suggest that we proceed with item 21. In this item I would askChief Tshekedi of the Bamangwato to express the views ofCouncil.DISPOSAL/...

- 43 -DISPOSAL OF FINES IN KIND IN NATIVE COURTS.KGOSI TSHEKEDI KHMiA (BAMANGWATO):

Your Honour, the Bamalete have placed their request before Council and I havebeen asked by the Chairman to express the views of Council on thi.s item.We find in the Proclamation No.33/1943, Section 20, these words: "Subject tosuch rules as may be made under section 39, the practice and procedure in NativeCourts shall be regulated in accordance with Native Law and Custom."According to our Setswana custom in the Protectorate, if the judgment of theCourt says that a man shall pay in such and such a way for having committed acrime where he has injured someone, the fine that may be paid by that individualmay be disposed of in many ways. It might be killed and eaten by that Tribunal,if it happens to be a beast; it might be given to someone as it may appearexpedient to the president of' the Tribunal. The president need not necessarily bea Chief, it may be a Chief's representative in one of the outlying villages where hehas people under him as well and it may appear necessary to that particularpresident to hand the beast to one of the people who assist him in the trial ofcases; according to Setswana custom this i quite acceptable.Now, as the law has been issued in the Native CourtRules, it stops this. It says 'all fines other than coxipensatcry fines shall be paidinto the Native Treasury for the area in which a Native Court is situated, or ifthere be no Native Treasury it may be disposed of in such manner as the ResidentCommissioner may direct."Now the request of the Bamalete is that this law be amended to permit Setswanacustom as I have already explained, and the views of the Council are that in therecord book the disposal of the fines should be recorded, whether the fine waspaid into the Tribal Treasury or whether it has been slaughtered to provide meatfor those who were trying the case, or whether it has been given away. That is arequest that this Council places before Government.RES IDENT COViISS IONER:Did Council consider the effect of this proposal on revenue?KGOSI TSHEKEDI KHAIMA (BAMANGWATO):Yes, we have considered that Your Honour. First we do not consider that this is avery big source of revenue, insofar' as the tribes are concerned; secondly Sir,many people give their services to the Tribal Administration free and this is acustomary practice Whereby we would somehow give them some consideration.It is nothing that can really be' considered as a living wage for these people, it isjust a form of expression of thankfulness from the Ghief or perhaps the Chief'srepresentative, for the help these people have given. That is how Setswanaadministration was able to run because one was not to look forward to being paidfor his services but to receive a token of appreciation. We feel that if we are topay everything into the Treasury rather than follow this practice, it will decreasethe revenue that is already in the Treasury,because/...

- 44 -because many people will lose interest in assisting the tribe "I without being paid.That is what we wish to place before Your HonourWe want to emphasise that we

have no objection to the District Commissioner knowing what is done with thesefines, because in that way they will learn how the true tribal law functions in itsadministration.RESIDENT COI1ISSIONER:The Bamalete's motion was to give legal sanction to a practice which alreadyexists and is carried out every day?I would like to comment on this a little later in the meeting if I may.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALhTE):Your Honour, items 19,, 23 and 13 have been removed from the Agenda,therefore I suggest -that we take item 16 and I will ask Chief Bathoen to explainit.CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON TRIBAL BUILDINGS.KGQSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, I placed this complaint before Council in connection with amountsthat have been approved by Government in connection with buildings for TribalAdministrations. Quite recently we received our approved estimates when thetime is already far spent. When the Tribe is ready to start a building it is timenow for members of the tribe to go to the lands to plough and in rainy weather itis difficult for such work to be carried on. When they return from ploughingthere is very little time left and then we are informed that the financial year hasended. Again there is delay in getting authority to hav6 the money carried overto the next financial year and this delays the starting of new buildings, for whichauthority has been sought to have them built. This is the request of Councilwhich I place before Your Honour on their behalf. de wish to point out that weare still new in these financial matters and there are many difficulties which oftenconfront us and delay the progress of our work.The tribes now request how it would work if insteadof the estimates being just for one year they could be for two years. This mayappear extraordinary but if the Government looks into our estimates they will seethat there are not many changes from year to year. If one year some work has tobe undertaken or if something has to be done, there is provision for that particularthing to be included in the estimates.RESIDENT COXISSIONER:As regards the carry over, I am sure there must be some way to be found ofgetting out of that difficulty and the Financial Secretary will do his best to findone. I don't think there will be any difficulty at all as .regards delaysand so on.As regards the question of extended estimates, that is for a longer period of oneyear, the proposal has advantages but we should have considerable difficultyin'obtaining approval of such views.Mr. Chairman/...

- 45 -Mr- Chairman, I would like, if you would be so good, to adjourn Council untilthis afternoon. There are lots of matters arising from Council that I have got to

consider and we have made excellent progress with the Agenda, and we are in,good time, so I should like a two hours' break from now until this afternoon, ifthat will suit you, until half past two.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (Bi.IALETE):We are very thankful Your Honour.Council adjourned at 10.50 a.m.Council resumed at 2.35 p.m.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAPIALETE):Your Honour, before commencing I would like to putbefore Council that this morning Chief Molefi sent a message to Council that hewould not be able to attend as he was not well.RESIDENT COP24ISSIONER:Will you convey to him a message to the effect that I am sorry to hear that.BASUBIA REPRESENTATIVE.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BIOALETE):Your Honour, one other thing I would like to point out before we commence. Iwould like to refer to Item 29 in connection with the point of a representative forthe Basubia. I know that we thrashed out this point yesterday and the matter wasleft in the air. We were a little non-plussed because the first thing Your honourdid was to ask us to vote. Vle expected that we would debate it first. That is whysome of us put up our hands and others did not and the whole council was ratherdubious about the whole matter and I raised my hand to say that I did not quiteunderstand. It is not to say that Council was totally against the appointment of arepresentative of the Basubia in this Council, what we expected was that no othernew man should come into this council without our having been previouslyinformed of it and talk over it and come to an agreement, not forgetting yourrights both to Government and to the Bechuana. Now Council wishes to pointout to Your Honour that Council accepts the Basubia in Council. What we want toknow is whether this will be the only representative for the Crown Lands orwould it happen in the future that some other representative will be appointed forthe Crown Lands. That Is all your Honour - if there is anything I have forgottenor left out, any member of Council will assist me and if there' is anything I haveadded which is not necessary any member of council will assist me. That is allYour Honour_RSIDENT C0MISSIONER:As regards to this specific question asked by Chief Mokgosi, there is no presentintention to appoint any'further members to Council for the Crown Lands. If thequestionshould/...

- 46 -should ever arise Council will be consulted. There is one error in the paper thathad been circulated about this proposal and that is that it should have read "thatthe people of the Chobe Crown Lands" and not "Basubia residents" so that willmean that a representative of the populations of the Chobe Crown Lands - notnecessarily the Basubia - would sit in Council. I am glad to hear from Council

that the proposal commends itself to them. The population is quite considerableand I am sure we will be able to help them and they will be helpful to us.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, one other request is that we had some Committee Meetings duringthe days that the Council sat and I ask Your Honour for an opportunity to meettomorrow so that we shall be able to thrash these points and come to an end.RESIDENT COIV IISSIONER:That would be very convenient tb me, because as youknow I have an engagement outside i.afeking tomorrow - a long, outstandingengagement.KGOSI MOKGOSI III ( BAIALETE):Your Honour, I think we should start on 'item 31, as it is a short one.ORDERS BY NATIVE COURTS FOR THE TAKING OF FINGERPRINTS.Your Honour, Council has accepted this item, there is nowhere where it opposesthe item and we find no difficulty in connection with this item for it is inaccordance with the usual procedure. That is all I have to say in connection withthis J tem. If there is anything I have left out any Member of Council will add it.RESIDENT CODBIISSIONER:Yes, as the Chairman points out, it is the usual procedure and I think the Councilcan accept it without difficulty.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BA2,ALETE):Your Honour, we shall take item 24 if you wish and Chief Kgari will explain it toyou.CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES.KGOSI KGARI SECHELE II (BAKWENA):Your Honour, this item No. 24 about which I am goingto talk now is one of the old items just like the one I had this morning. I amtalking about the bridges which have to be constructed on our roadsp such as theroad from Gaberones Station to Molepolole. It is an old request that we havelong put forth, which was put forth even before the war- Although there is a roadthat runs between Gaberones Station and Miolepolole, we find considerabledifficulties and delays in delivery of goods. I believe Your Honour has alwaysvisited Molepolole and I believe that Your Honour has seen the two rivers'Manoko and 1lKokgopeetsana. It is on rfany occasions during the rainy seasonthat our postal bus has been unable to cross over theriver/...

- 47 -river on account of the amount of water in these rivers. If rain falls, one may beable to cross the 'Metsimothaba River because there is a bridge but when onecomes to a river with no bridge one finds it difficult to cross.That is the request I put before Your Honour, that my bridges be constructed onthese rivers to enable people to go across with the post and other things. At timesan urgent message may be sent for one to come into Mafeking and one may not beable to do so on accout of these rivers. This is the request I put before Your

Honour, more so that it has long been put before Your Honour, even before thewar- It is a most sincere request.RESIDENT COiMISSIONER:iIs it high or low-level bridges which you require? I think the Director of PublicWorks says one high for the narrow river and one low for the broad one. AsCouncil knows, we have been hard up for funds in one way or another for roads,but in the next year I have proposed that our road vote be increased by 50% and Iam also still hoping that an application for a Colonial Development Funds grantfor something over £,000 and nearer £5,000 a year will be given to us.. In thatcase I would put these two bridges fairly high on the list of works to be done,especially as I understand that the local traders have offered to help with thematerials, but I must wait until I get these funds first.KGOSI KGARI SECHELE II (BAKWENA):Thanks Your HonourPIR. NELEDI MOGALAKWE (BATAWANA):Most humbly Your Honour I also request that when consideration is given tothese bridges we should also be considered as we have no bridges on our roadsnow except the bridges which have been constructed by the Witwatersrand NativeLabour Association, crossing the road from Diaun to Serowe. That bridge hasnow been destroyed and we have to travel via Francistown. As you know, ourrivers are slow flowing and the water stays there for months, just as today one ofthe rivers still contains water. If there is any bhing .urgent to be done on theother side of the river we find that it is difficult to cross to that spot owing to theserivers being full. That is why I put this request before Your Honour, that whenconsideration is being taken of the other tribes we should also be taken intoconsideration.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:There is only one thing I don~t think it can be contended that the roads in thatparticular place, apart from the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association road,carry quite so much traffic as the road that Chief Kgari was talking about. Inaddition to that, of course, a bridge across a river like the Thamalakane is a verybig enterprise indeed. We are in this connection investigating the question of theconstruction of a Bailey bridge, (I am not sure how far that has gone) but if Baileybridges do turn out lo be a practical proposition, then it might be possible toconsider the proposal of the Councillor but I am afraid it is not a thing aboutwhich I can make any promise.KGOSI MOKGOSI/...

- 48 -KGOSI NOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, we shall take item 27- This is also very simple question as wetalked it over last year.REGISTRATION OF AFRICAN TAX PAYERS AT AGE OF 18 YEARS.When we left this question we did not quite agree on how people could register astax payers at the age of 18. We found it difficult that such boys should be

entered into the tax registers. We have found it best that it should be agreed thatafter every five years a regiment should be nominated and members of suchregiments would become liable to pay tax. Even today we think that it is best thateach tribe should nominatea regiment after every five years and such should pay tax. If any tribe would findit necessary to nominate two regiments every five years, it rests with the tribe todo so, but we ask that the maximum time that should be stipulated should be' fiveyears. That is what we thought best to make it easier for us to collect the taxesinstead of registering every youth of 18 years of age as a tax payer.RMI DENT COMISSI ER:That would mean that there would be no boys in the tax register except in the caseof those going to the mines, except every five years?.KGOSI .MKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Yes Your Honour, but it is not to say that if any tribe finds it necessary to registertwo regiments every five years it should be stopped from doing so.KGOSI BATHOEN II, (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, the main point is that would mean thatevery parent whose son is 18 years would have to take his son to the Chief andpoint out that it is time for the son to pay tax. We considered this point verydeeply but as parents we find that most of the Bechuana do not know the ages oftheir sons, there are many of us who still do not know which children are 18.Secondly it is difficult for us to find out which of our children are 18 for in manycases you find that a Bechuana youth who is about 18 years is very small in size.We pointed this out last year, but when we left here last time we went and lookedinto this carefully and found that it was so.We make every effort to have the tribal and government taxes paid but the onlyway we find it suitable in which to tax' these young men is the way which theChairman has mentioned and that is that they be registered every five years. It isnot to say if 4ny other boy was found to be 18 years after the nomination of suchregiment he would be left alone, he would be asked to pay tax. On manyoccasions we find that our sons now-a-days often run away to find employmenteven before their time to pay tax. The Director of Education may also bear me outthat in schools you find that there are more girls than boys but if it can beinvestigated where these children are, it will be found that they are not at thecattle post and you will find that they have gone to work and that they are boundto pay tax.We have tried our level best to assist in this connection but we find that these arethe difficulties which we wishto/...

- 49 -to place before you Your Honour- We do not say that young men won't pay taxbefore five years, they will pay when they are able to do so. Even before thisproposal was made by Government it was as we say.RLSIDhNT COMMISSIONER:

The advice of Council, as given by the Chairman and Chief Bathoen, is quite clearand definite and it now remains for Government to consider it and see how far wecan go to meetCouncil's advice and wishes.KGOSI TSHEKEDI KHAMA (BAMANGWATO):I want to ask one thing, that when Government considers this question it shouldbe realised that it does not mean that 5 years will have to pass before peopleeligible to pay tax do so. When we nominate a regiment we find in that regimentthatsome of the men are grown up, others are youths and others small boys andtherefore it is not actually 5 years that will have to pass before one pays tax: Forwhen a regiment is nominated many of the members of the regiment are peoplewho would not otherwise have to pay tax but they will have to pay there asthey are members of the regiment at that time.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:The idea being t~at it all works out on the average?Taking an average, it works out very much as if you had an annual' registration?KGOSI TSHEKEDI KHAMA (BAMANGWATO):That is my submission Your Honour.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALhTE):We shall take Item 10, Your Honour?RESIDENT CaMISSIONER:Yes, that is the question of the African Traders.REMOVAL OF AFRICAN TRADERS FROM THE SCOPE OF THE CREDITSALES TO"NATIVES PROCLAMATION -No.35 of 1932)KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, we discussed this point at length and came to an agreement.Council's decision is the same as the decision in item No. 1 and that is that theyconsider African traders be exempted from this Proclamation? I don't think thereis any necessity for me to go deeply into this question but if any member ofCouncil wishes to do so he may.RESIDENT CCIEMISSIONER:I understand that the Chairman says he agrees that African traders should beexempted from the provision of the Credit Sales to Natives Proclamation, andthey should be removedfrom the scope of the Proclamation.KGOSI MOKGOSI III/...

- 50 -KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Yes, Your HonourRESIDENT COM1ISSIONER:Thank you.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):The next item Your Honour is item 32, which is the last on the agenda.

GRADED TAXATION.I shall also deal with this in short as it has beendiscussed yearly and monthly. There is not a single part of it that Council. doesnot accept - we accept it all. One other thing I would like to point out is that whenthis is discussed we should take into consideration any tribes who cannot carrythis out. That is one of the points that this Council went into ,vThere may not beany difficulties but in case there may be. RESIDENT COMiISSIONER:I don't quite understand what difficulties are envisaged - Is the difficulty loss ofrevenue in the smaller tribes? KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BA!MALETE):Yes, Your Honour.RESIDENT CO1IISbIONER:At the previous meeting we said that we would watch this carefully and come tothe rescue of any tribes that find themselves badly down on revenue. KjOSIMOKG6SI III (BAMALETE):Thank you Your Honour.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, there is one point which the Chairman has omitted to put beforeyou. This point is in regard to men who receive salaries up to £4. It is noted thatsuch men will not pay anything, being graded taxation, but Council thinks thatsuch men should be able to pay at least 5/-, just like a man who owns no stock.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:It is suggested that possibly that is a mistake. What is your recollection of theCommittee Meeting, that we agreed on 5/-?KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):It was nil. I brought this suggestion that we should pay at least 5/-. Secondly,Your Honour, it is in connection ,with men with two wives, to pay tax for twohuts. Our request iA that since the tax has been increased, could not such peoplebe/...

- 51 -be exempted from payment of tax for two huts, and only pay for one hut?Besides when a man pays tax for two wives it is in many cases that such a manhas many children to care for and people have several'dependants.RESI DENT CIISSIONER:As regards the plural wives tax, I don't see any objection at all to dropping that: infact - I am speaking from memory - I seem to remember some such proposalhaving come once at any rate from the Government side.As regards this nil at the bottom of the rates ofadditional tribal tax, I think it is pitching it a little high for a man who earns asalary under £45 to expect him to pay 33/ but Council is in a better position tojudge of that than I am.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Has Your Honour noted that people who have no cattlepay 5/-?RESIDENT COFA41ISSIONER:

Yes, it is inconsistent, I see that. I don't think I will hold up proceedings now, butperhaps I might ask the Government Secretary if he would have a word tomorrowwith the Committee just on that point and on that point only and I will 4 agreevery readily to any figure that may be fixed.The whole thing is accepted in principle and we only have this one small point todecide. I don't want to open the door for a complete resurrection of this matter,just this one point.With the acceptance of this Graded Taxation by Council there will be a great dealof work to do in the course of the next few months to get this thing going by theend of the financial year. I am sure that District Commissioners and theAuthorities, as well as the Financial Secretary, will all co-operate to get it going intime for the next financial year and to make it a success.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):One item we have not discussed Sir is item 9, because yesterday we wereinformed that the Principal Agricultural Office r was not present.G OVERNMENT SECRETARY:Your Honour, in 1943 the Resident Commissioner appointed a Committee to dealwith Agricultural Production and it became known as the TAP Committee. Itwas a small Committee consisting of the Principal Agricultural Officer, threesenior district officers, two of the chiefs and two councillors. This Committee, forvarious reasons, got to the stage recently where it no longer served much purpose.I spoke to the remaining original members this morning on the question whetherthe Committee, in its original form, might not still serve some purpose. It wasagreed that there was no need for such a Committee and the proposal is to returnto your Honour and ask that the TAP Cowittee be dissolved and that two newCommittees should be established. The two Committees would have the samepersonnelbut/...

- 52 -but would have an alternate chairman. The first is the Committee to advise theResident Commissioner on food production. It is proposed that the Chairman ofthat Committee should be the Principal Agricultural Officer, that there should bethree representatives of the Native Administrations nominated by the African-Advisory Council and three Government officers nominated by the ResidentCommissioner- That would be six members and a chairman.. Similarly therewould be a Committee to advise the Resident Commissioner on Veterinarymatters. The members would be the same six members and the Chairman wouldbe the Principal Veterinary Officer. The matter is put to Council to ask them itthey accept the proposal and, if so, to nominate' their three members. Havingdiscussed it with Your Honour I am presuming that the proposal is acceptable toyou.KGOSI MOKGOSI II (BANIALETE):We accept the proposal your Honour.RESIDENT COINISSIONER:

The Government Secretary has shown a way to the reconstruction of the oldCommittee which, no doubt, served a useful purpose. Perhaps members wouldlike to discuss it tomorrow in the course of their talks in my absence and if theproposal is acceptable to Council and then Council might nominate its threemembers.Chief Bathoen mentioned the appointment of various committees consisting ofGovernment officials nominated by myself and members of Council. Thissuggestion was contained in an address to which I have not yet completed theenswer. Under the circumstances, thereforo, I am not in a position to nominate theGovernment officials who might meet Council and at therisk of some delay, Imust ask council to await my address before any such meetings can take place.The items remaining on the agenda now as far as I can see are No.9 - that is theone you have not yet discussed - and No.26. The moment might be appropriatenow for me to make statements on one or two subjects that I reserved earlier in-the meeting for consideration.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAPIALETE):Yes, Your HonourRESILLENT CO144ISSIOER:There was ona item which was trade monopoly in which Chief Kgari expressedthe wish that some form of special treatment could be given to aspiring Africantraders so as to permit them to trade in remote areas on a reduced scale; that is,not to go in for wholesale dealing but to trade on a small scale, on the assumptionthat such trading would be in the small everyday items of household and domesticuse which would save the housewife from walking long distances for herrequirements.I am quite in favour of some discriminatory licence of that kind and I will cause alittle plan to be made out which will be duly submitted to the Native Authorit.iesfor their qomments. I think that such a plan would not only be a convenience tothe public but would also be an encouragement to the African to take up tradingand so I will do my best to meet the resolution as well as I am able.KGOSI KGARI/...

- 53 -KGOSI KGARI SECHELE II (BAKWENA):I thank you, Your Honour.RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:As regards the question of divorces. This is arather delicate subject and I think that we would find it very difficult to put thepresent system, which appears to work very well and is well understood, into thelaw. It is, I think,well understood that in any cases of this nature the Native Court makes enquiriesand makes various investigations in the history of the case before the case goesbefore the District Commissioner. This appears to be satisfactory to all and Ithink it would be very difficult and possibly a little unwise to make it too rigid byputting it into the law.The same thing applies to item 21 which is the

question of the disposal of fines. The whole of the modern tendency is so toarrange it that fines are paid in cash and are paid into a treasury of some kind orother. I understand that in practice we do not always follow this trend. At thesame time I dOn't think we should make reference to it in any law.I understand it is now the wish of Council to hearfrom the Principal Agricultural Officer about grain storage and I take it this willbe an unofficial matter and out of council so I will therefore declare counciladjourned until Saturday Morning.Council adjourned at 3.40 p.m. until 10 a.m.Saturday, 28th-August, 1948.Council resumed at 10.25 a.m. on SATURDAY, the28th August, 1948.GOVERNIVIENT SECRETARY:Your Honour, you left me to speak to Council about a small difficulty which hadarisen regarding the rate ofGraded Taxation to be paid by salaried persons earning up to £48, and stockowners owning up to 9 head. Council eventually unanimously accepted that boththose grades should pay 2/graded taxation. That would be £1.8.o. plus 2/-,making it £1.10.O. both for the grade up to £W8, and for Category 1,0 - 9 head of stock.RESIDENT OQIdISSIONER:What are we taking first?KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your Honour, item 9 is the one I suggest, it is ashort one.GRAIN STORAGE...

- 54 -GRAIN STORAGE.KGOSI'MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):'e have discussed this at length Your Honour. There are certain difficulties whichconfront us and ,which make it impossible for us to agree with this suggestion,and finally Your Honour we concluded that the best way would be for theGovernment to undertake this project, so that the Government would have to fillthese elevators with corn and we would not have to bring in corn ourselves to theelevator, except that perhaps those who had surplus corn could go and sell it to theelevator- The feeling of the Council is that if the Government buys the corn andputs it in the elevator and then sells it to the people when they require it, then itwill be acceptable, rather than that we should plough and send our corn to theelevatorYour Honour, I think this is the Council!s decision on thts proposal. If Ihave omitted to mention any particular "' point I invite any member of council toadd to what I have said.RESIDENT COilISSIONER:Details as to collections could of course be worked out later but beforeGovernment could enter into such a thing it would be necessary that Government

be assured of the good will of the people of the country. The elevator is ofcourse only designed to take a surplus and so what we should want to be assuredis that in the event of Government erecting an lelevator there would be noreluctance on the part of the Native Authorities or of the people to sell the surplus,and I therefore take it that in the event of Government erecting such an elevator itwould be regarded by the people and by the Native Authorities with good will.KGOSI BATHOEN II (BANGWAKETSE):Your Honour, this Council expressed its desire that Ouch an elevator should beerected, but members of Council pointed out that there would be difficulties ifeach individual member of tribes had to send their bags to the elevator and thenlater ask for them to be given back to him. We felt that instead of doing this in agood year when the tribes have reaped enormous crops and if there are surpluscrops to be sent to the elevator, we suggest that the Government should buy thissurplus corn and put it in the elevator and keep the corn in the elevator until suchtime as we require corn and then-we can ko and buy from the elevator. There isnothing that we are against in connection with the erection of this elevator. Wefeel that it will be a great help to us on the lines that I have just proposed.Secondly, it is not on many occasions that we get much corn in the Territory thatwe can sell to the elevator. de would advise and request Government to buy fromthe Union when the Union has surplus crops and put the corn in the elevator, aswe do not get record crops often in the Protectorate. When corn is obtainable inthe Union at low prices we suggest that Government buy it and put it in theelevator and later the tribes will be able to buy the corn from the Government,rather than pay high prices to the traders.RESIDENT CON&ISSIONER:It is very encouraging to hear that Council favours the idea.KGOSI TSHEKEDI KHAMA/...

- 55 -KGOSI TSHEKEDI KHA (BdviANGWATO):Your Honour, it appears there is something which thelast speakers have omitted to mention: it is this, that although the tribes havegranaries, we feel that this elevator would be of great help because grain nowstored in granaries that arescattered all over the Protectorate in tribal areas, will be collected in centres andforwarded to the main elevator. I just want to endorse that we are all grateful forthis proposal and some of us feel that if this elevator can be erected it may not benecessary to iimport grain from the Union, because what happens today is that wesend out our corn and import some. This happens every yearRESIDENTCOI2iISSIONER:Good - It will be necessary now for Government, advised by the PrincipalAgricultural Officer, to go into the ways and means of finding the money, ifpossible, and to work out a practical scheme, having regard to the advice ofCouncil.

There is one item left over that we did not finish and that is the Branding. Weleft that undecided, and item 26, the War Levy, was also undecided.VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS BY NATIVE COMMUNITIES FORLOCAL PROJECT S.I understand that Council would like me to nominate some officials ofGovernment to meet them on item 26, so the Government Secretary informs me.I shall nominate the Financial Secretary and the First Assistant Secretary.I think that only leaves, Mr. Chairman, item 7 that was left undecided.KGOSI MOKGOSI III (BAMALETE):Your-Honour, I think that the Council here did express their opinion and we werejust awaiting the reply from the Government.DISTINCTIVE BRANDING OF STOCK.RESIDiLNT COMISSIONER:The general opinion of Council, if I remember rightly, was against this. Am Icorrect in thinking that Council as a wholevas opposed to this suggestion?KGOSI 1iOKGOSI III (BAFIALETE):Yes, Your HonourRESIDENT COMMISSIONER:I think that Government would be quite prepared to put this motion aside, at leastfor the time being. I did tell Council however, in my reply to Council's Address,that there were a lot of discussions going on at present on the cattlesittiation.betwean the various veterinary authorities and the neighbouringterritories and it might be necessary for me some time in the future to bring thismotion before Council again, but for the time being, as I say, I am quite willing todropIt.~~KGOSI QOKGOSI III/..

KGOSI MoKGoSI III (BAVMALETW):Your Honour, we have now come to the end of the Agenda, except item 26, whichhas to be discussed in Committee Your Honour, and we now have to read ourreply to Your Honour' s Open4tng Address to Council. I shall ask one memberof Council to read our reply to Your Honour.COUNCIL'S REPLY TO THE RESIDENT CORIISSIONER'S ADDRESS.MR. MOLWA M. SEKGOijA (BAMANGWATO):Your Honour:Visit of His Excellency the High Commissioner to the Bechuanaland Protectorate.Council wishes once again to record its continued appreciation of the visit of ourpresent High Commissioner to this Territory. Council has been informed that SirEvelyn Baring has recently spent three days at Ioeng where the buildings for thefirst Secondary School to be established in the Territory are in the course ofconstruction. This visit was a manifestation of the keen interest which the HighCommissioner takes in the developments of Bechuanaland, and the efforts of itspeople in particular- Council wishes to thank the High Commissioner for thisencouragement and for the technical assistance which he has arranged thatGovernment should give to this project.

The Fitzgerald Commission.Council has noted that no discussion of Salary Scales would be effective at thisjuncture in view of the fact that the Fitzgerald Commission's recommendationsare still awaited. Council, however, wishes to observe that their request for anopportunity to give their views on scales of salaries affecting education during thepresent Session of Council was occasioned by the fact that members of Councilfeel that the African people of the Bechuanaland Protectorate and theiradministrations were not represented in the Commission whereas the Europeaninhabitants were. The personnel of the Fitzgerald Commission were fourEuropean Officials of Government, one of whom came from Swaziland, one non-official European Representative and one African Senior Clerk in theBechuanaland Protectorate Government Administration.In view of the fact that the Commissionts recommendations are still awaited,Council again requests that its representations on the salary scales of teachers inthe Bechuanaland Protectorate be discussed by the special Committee asked forand be forwarded for consideration befbre the recommendations of the FitzgeraldCommission are finalised.Milk Products-Ltd..Lobatsi.Council has noted that this creamery is now in production. We wish to requesthowever, that in future, Government may see fit to consult this Council onDevelopments to be promoted in the Bechuanaland Protectorate before they comean accomplished fact. It must not be throught that Council does not appreciatethe work of this creamery, the point is raised because about the same time as thisproject was approved by Government there were other similar schemes beingconsidered elsewhere in the Bechuanaland Protectorate in the areas occupied bythe African people.Teacher Training/...

- 57 -Teacher Training Centre at Kanye.Council had hoped to receiv during this Session alittle more information regarding the progress of the buildings to be provided forthe above school. The only official information so far received on this point isthat contained in the Government Secretary's Memorandum No.8505/(268) 11, ofthe 4th March, 1948. Council had occasion in committee to discuss some of thepoints raised in this circular, in particular the possibility of Tribal Administrationsproviding funds for the capital expenditure of this school. Council however,feels that this suggestion is not a fair request to be put to Tribal Administrations inview of the fact that the whole of the expenditure (capital and recurrent) onprimary education and most of the Middle Schools' expenditure is borne by theNative Treasuries, and individual communities.Council respectfully asks for the speedy considerationi and pronouncement of theGovernment policy in how far the funds from the Central Treasury are to beexpended on education of the African people in the Bechuanaland Protectorate.Council draws the attention of the Government even at the risk of repeating

themselves, that when Middle Schools were established these were definitely tobe financed by Government in both capital and recurrent expenditure, Thispolicy has been completely changed and the burden has fallen on the TribalTreasuries. Some of the members of Council were present at a Conference where"Post War Developments" on education were considered. Amongst other thingsit was resolved that if a certain Tribe as was then proposed, did put up aSecondary School in the North, the second Secondary or Trades School whichGovernment had under consideration would be established in the South. Itseemed from discussions which were followed up by several Memoranda that thissecond Secondary School would be financed wholly from Government funds. Welearn from 11*arious circulars that the Teacher Training Centre at Kanye maypossibly develop into a Secondary and Trades School Centre. If Government isnow to press its suggestion that Tribal Treasuries should now shoulder thefinancial responsibilities of this school whether capital or recurrent, this wouldseem to us a second change of policy whereby the Government shifts the financialresponsibility from the Central Treasury to the Tribal Treasuries. Perhaps it willnot be out of place to mention here that in our knowledge the present percentageof revenue allowed the Tribal Administrations in the Bechuanaland Protectorate,is the lowest in the British Protectorates, and the continued request of removingexpenditures from the Central to the Tribal Treasuries without increasing theirrevenues seems to us unsympathetic in the results.Foot & Mouth Disease.Council wishes to thank His Honour the ResdentCommissioner for supplying them with the figures of the monthly expenditure onthe measures taken to establish Cordons to restrict the spread of the Foot andMouth Disease. Council has noted that it is not considered an opportune time tohave a small committee to consider probable steps which can be taken to combatthe spread of the Foot and Mouth Disease. We therefore wish to put forward forthe consideration of Government the possibility of fencing large areas whichcould graze say 30,000 heads of cattle or more. The colossal amount of £11,000expenditure a month could very greatly be reduced iffencing/...

fencing were erected. It is held that the recurrent expenditure of £10,000 a monthcould complete the fencing operations and thereby save many more thousands ofpounds. It is submitted further that this fencing would not only reduce theexpenditure but it would give very much more effective measure of control of thespread of the disease.In the opinion of the Council we regret to record that the methods so far adoptedto stop the spread of this disease have not been effective enough. The territoryheard of the existence of this disease in 1933 when it was reported to be inRhodesia. Most drastic steps were taken including the destruction of cattlewithout compensation to the owners where cattle crossed the cordons. Theseprecautions did not however, stop the spread of the disease because it soonappeared in the Northern Bechuanaland Protectorate itself. It is now practically in

the centre of the Bechuanaland. Protectorate. So far we have not changed ourplans for the control of the spread. Council respectfully requests Government thatour methods of controlling the spread of this disease be reconsidered and besubstituted with more effective and permanent measures than-what we have atpresent. In concluding this somewhat perturbing note we wish to assure theGovernment of our continued co-operation in all measures which the Governmentdesires to adopt.MEDICAL.Doctors:Council has noted with appreciation that recently aninstruction was received from the High Commissioner to the effect that thedesignation of "Assistant Medical Officer" as at present applied to an AfricanDoctor should no longer be used and that all doctors whether European or africanshould be designated "Medical Officers". It is further noted that the question ofsalaries of African doctors is receiving the consideration of Government.The following facts may be of interest to your HonourWe gather that of the fourdoctors whom we referred to earlier in the meeting, only one has - the African -continued to face the conditions often complained of by doctors who have joinedthe Bechuanaland Protectorate Government medical service. The three othershave all resigned. We desire to say that if our terms of service in this professionwere in future not to be discriminatory, there was a chance of securing theservices of more African people to the post of Medical Officers in theBechuanaland Protectorate.GENERAL.Sanitary Arrangements for members of Council:A few years ago Council drew the attention of the Government to the fact thatthere were no public conveniences for tribal Representatives attending Council.A small public convenience was provided. We soon observed, however, that itturned out to be a public convenience, available for labourers and passers-by withthe result that when we are called to attend this Council this house is found to bein a very filthy state. Attention of Government is further drawn to the fact tbatwe now have in Council ladies whether as members of Council orMlerks inattendance to members of Council.Council/...- 58 -

- 59 -Council requests that more fitting conveniences be provided which could beavailable for the exclusive use of members of Council, and locked up whenCouncil is not in Session,Referring to the comfort of the Africans employed at the Head Quarters inPafeking attention of the Sanitary Inspectors should seri6usly be drawn to thepresent sanitary conveniences provided for these people.Washing facilities for Members of Council.

The work of the African Advisory Council is increasing and consequentlymembers of Council stay here for long periods. Council requests that facilities beprovided for bathing and washing. Today members of Council either have to gointo'the village looking for these facilities (those who have relatives and friends)or have to scoop water in buckets during the night hours, as there is no privacyduring the day.RESIDENT COWISSIONER:I thank Council for their helpful reply to my Address.' I understand there are anumber of points to be cleared up; one of the things we still have to do is theNational Council of the Bechuana Soldiers' Benefit Fund. There are also variousCommittees and meetings which are taking place as the result of requests byCouncil, but as regards Council itself, I now declare it adjourned sine die.Council adjourned at 11.15 4.m., sine die.PULA !

AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCILTWENTY-NINTH SESSIONAUGUST 1948.PROGRESS REPORT.1. Weirhts. and Measures:Government's motion (27th session, item 27)The following possibilities were considered:(a) That the three High Commission Territories should sharebetween them the services of a full-time, qualifiedassize officer.(b) That the Government of the Union or of Southern Rhodesiashould lend to the Bechuanaland Protectorate, at intervals, the services of one oftheir assize officers.(c) That a Police Officer should undergo a short course oftraining with a view to his employment on assize work inaddition to Police duties.The first two proposals were found to be impracticable while, as to the third, itwas considered that a short course of three months would not qualify an officer toadminister the elaborate and complicated laws contained in the draftproclamation. Moreover, the financial implications were considerable since thenecessary equipment alone was estimated to cost nearly £1,000.The Union Department o'f Commerce and Industries was asked for its advice onthis subject. The Department pointed out the great difficulties which would beexperienced if anything less than full scale legislation were adopted and fullytrained officers employed. The heavy expenditure which this would entail makesit impossible to take this matter further at present. (8312/1)2. Appeals to the High Court - Legal representation ofave Authorities.Government's motion (28th session, item 1)

No definite rule will be made on the subject at present but each case will be dealtwith individually as it arises. (7704/3)3. Smallpox vaccination:Government's motion (28th session, item 3)The Director of Medical Services is considering means whereby the visits ofvaccinators can be made at times when full g~herings of the people can bearranged. (1326)4. Colonial Survey and Water Development:Government's motion (28th session, item 5)A grant of £95,OOO, spread over five years, has beenmade/...

-2made from the Colonial Development and delfare Fund for a geological andmineral survey. Application has been made for a grant for surface waterdevelopment and the result is awaited.5. Payment for vaccines and sheep dip:Government's motion (28th session, item 6)Government has under consideration the question of the .,ssue of vaccines and dipin return for a yearly contribution from each Native Treasury.The financial implications are being worked out.6. Control of Methylated Spirits:Government's motion (28th session item 8)Certain defects have been found in the original draft Proclamation and a freshdraft is being prepared. (5485/2)7. Tribal Agricultural Production and Lands:Government's motion (28th session items 9 and 10)The following acreages were planted for the 1947/48 season:Sorghum (kaffir corn) 1664Maize 357Beans 62Groundnuts 21The good'general rains enabledmost tribal lands to be planted in good time butcrops in the South have since suffered from prolonged periods of drought and theharvest prospects can only be described as fair to good. In the North crops aregenerally good and it is now reasanably certain that the harvest will be above theaverage.The following implements have been supplied for use on tribal lands:19 singleand double-row planters17 cultivators24 harrows6 ploughs. (5472/1, 5472/2)8. Development Committee:Chief Tshekedi's motion (27th session, item 10)

The Resident Commissioner does not consider that at this stage a developmentcommittee such as that proposed by the Chief would serve any useful purpose.Should real need for such a committee arise in due course Government will beprepared to consider its establishment. (74h1/5)9. Apontment of Teachers with de ree Oalifications ofAssistant Education Officers:Chief Bathoen's motion (28th session items 11 and 13) The staff/...

-3The staff of the Kanye training centre has been increased and improved by thesecondment of two additional teachers, one a graduate and the other the holder ofa postmatriculation diploma in Education. Active consideration is also beinggiven to the appointment of a graduate as Principal of the centre. In general thereis a slow but steady improvement in the standard of the African educational staff.(8505, 2327/4)10. Trades School:Chief Bathoen's motion (28th session, item,12)The present position is that the Public Works Department is giving instruction inthe mechanical trades to eight men and in various branches of the building tradeten apprentices are undergoing instruction.Provision has been made in an application for a grant from the ColonialDevelopment and Welfare Fund for £500 for the technical training of Africans.11. High Velocity Rifles:Chief Tshekedi's motion (28th session, item 16)The District Commissioners, who are meeting in conference, have been invited toconsider this question and to make recommendations to Government. (2915/1)12. Hunting of Game in Native Reserves:Chief Tshekedi's motion (28th session, item 17)A draft proclamation empowering Chiefs to authoriseany African to hunt game in their reserves has been forwarded to the HighCommissioner for enactment if approved. (3449/2)13- Africans who act 9s quack herbalists, etc.Chief Tshekedi's motion (28th session, item 20)As a result of the discussion on this matter consideration was given to thefeasibility of extending the jurisdiction of Native Courts to cover the trial ofcontraventions of Proclamation No.62 of 1934 (Medical, Dental and Pharmacy)-by natives but after full examination of the position Government is not in favourof the proposal. (7069/8)14. Limitation of numbers of pupils in Middle Schools:Chief Molefi's motion (28th session item 21)This question was left undecided by Council and no further action has been taken.(3006)15. Memorial to deceased soldiers:Government's motion (28th session, item 22)

The military authorities have been informed of the wishes of Council regardingthe erection of a memorial at Gaberonos and the hope has been expressed that theprovision and erection of the memorial would be undertaken by the Imperial WarGraves Commission. (1480/4) 16./...

A.-416. Bechuanaland Soldiers Benefit Fund - Adequacy of funds:Government's-motion (28th Session, item 23)With one exception, the additional contributions havebeen made by the Native Treasuries bringing the total to approximately £12,000.Since then, certain disbursements have been made from the Fund and the presenttotal is approximately £9,000. (5801/13)

TOHIS HONOUR THE RESIDENT COMMISSIONER A. SILLERY, ESQ.,C.V.O., B.A.REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COi1iITTEE OF THE BECHUANASOLDIERS' BENEFIT FUND.1947 -.1948.Your Honour,In terms of clause 13 (d) of the Constitution of the Bechuana Soldiers' BenefitFund, the members of the Executive CQmmittee appointed under Clause 8thereof, hereby submit for transference to the National Council their report on thework accomplished since last the Council met, together with a statement ofexpenditure duly audited.2. During the last quarter of 1947, insufficient applications were received towarrant the calling of a meeting of the Executive Committee, and a projectedmeeting in January 1948 was postponed pending the receipt of approximately 400applications which were expected from Serowe. These, however, have not yetbeen reported upon by the District Welfare Board. By the middleof January, applications from the other districts were accumulating, and a meetingwas therefore called for the 24th February, and took place at Gaberones.3. Fifty-seven cases were then considered, of which sixtegn had to be referredback to the District Welfare Boards concerned for further details. In theremaining forty-one ceses, thirteen loans and six grants were made for suchpurposes as the following:- Loans for the purchase of ploughs and oxen; Thestocking of a store; and for the digging of wells: Grants for replacing a span ofoxen killed by lightning; and for enabling a widow to purchase ploughing gear4.The Secretary reported that Mr. M.T. Chiepe, havingaccepted a post at Tiger Kloof, had tendered his resignation. The Committeeinstructed the Secretary to convey to him their good wishes, and their appreciationconcerning the services he had rendered.

Mr- A.N.W. Matthews proposed that as the Bakwena Tribe was not representedon the Committee, and as a large number of volunteers had been drawn from theBakwana Reserve, Chief Kgari should be invited to nominate a representative tofill the vacancy. Chief Bathoen seconded the proposal, which was carriedunanimously.5. In response to this invitation, Mr. Matlhabaphiri wasnominated by Chief Kgari to fill the vacancyUnder Clause 10 (i) a co-optedmember however, holds a temporary appointment until the next succeedingmeeting of the National Council, which shall then elect a member to fill thevacancy for the remainder of the term of office of the Executive Committee.6. The Chairman pointed out that under Clause 11 (i)Which reads: 'The term of office of the Executive Committee shall be threeyears', the term of office of the present Committee would expire in August 1948.It is essential therefore for the National Council to elect six members :- threeChiefs and three other African members. (Vide Constitution Clause 8.)7./...

-27. Several applications were received for loans orgrants for the purpose of building houses. The Committee considered these werenot permissable in terms of Clause 14 of the Constitution, and the principle wasreferred to the Council for consideration under Clause 14 (i) and decision.To summarise the matters now introduced for the deliberation of the NationalCouncil, they are as follows(a) EXA.INATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF GRANTINGASSISTANCE TO APPLICANTS WHETHER BY GRANTOR LOAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING HOUSES.(b) ELECTION OF MEMBERS IN TERMS OF PARAGRAPH 6.8. An audited statement of accounts is appended...We have the honour to be, Sir,Your obedient servants,..................... (CHAIRMAN.)...................... (SECRETARY.)o........................ . .... .. o e ee.............ee........... ..... .. ..- .. . eo oe ....... ...... .......a~.a.......................e...............0 . ............. . . . .e . . . . . .. . .o . . . .. .. ..e.. .ee. .o .". . . .eo. . .. .. .. .. . .o . .. .. .. ..e..e.. .. .. .. .. .o . . e................... 0...eo...... oe..................

ou o o o e ooo .......... . .e .eo.

- 3THE BECHUANA SOLDIERS' BENEFIT FUND.BALANCE SHEET.MAY ist, 1947 - JUNE 30th, 1948.BALANCE AT £10277.17. 4.30.4.-47.REPAYMENT OF LOANS. 137. 4. 0. SPECIAL LEVY. 1127. 0. 0.RETURNED IMPREST A/C. 21. 7- 6. BANK REFUND. 4.GRANTS. £1039. 9.LOANS. 1112. 0.TRAVELLING EXPENSES. 20. 0.PRINTING &c. 19.BA1K CHARGES. 1.IMPREST ACCOUNTS. 25. 0.BALANCE AT 30/6/48. 9365.18.£11563. 9- 2.Examined and checked by me (Signed) J.T.D.Quigley, Hon. Auditor817148.£11563. 9. 2.

BECHUANA SOLDIERS' BENEFIT FUND.ANNUAL GENERAL 1i'EETING OF NATIONAL COUNCIL.AGENDA.1. Minutes of last Annual General Meeting.2. Annual Report and Balance Sheet.3. Examination of the principle of granting assistance toapplicants, either by Grant or Loan, for the purpose ofbuilding houses. (Ref. Clause 14 (i) of the Constitution.) 4. Election of six Africanmembers of the Executive Committee,three of whom shall be chiefs (vide Clause 8 of the Constitution.) to serve for aperiod of three years.NOTE: The retiring Committee which has served for three yearsis composed of the following members:CHIEF TSHEKEDI KHAMA.CHIEF BATHOEN II, O.B.E.CHIEF MOKGOSI III.MR. KESEBONYE SEITSHIRO.MR. SEFHAKO PILANE.and MR. MATLHABAPHIRI WHO vAS CO-OPTED IN PLACE OFIvR. M.T.CHIEPE WHO RESIGNED THIS YEAR.

BECHUANA SOLDIERS' BENEFIT FUND.M I N U T E S.

of ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING held at Imperial Reserve, Mafeking,at 11.45 a.m. on SATURDAY, the 28th AUGUST, 1948.PRESENT: His Honour, the Resident Commissioner, Mr- A.Sillery, C.V.O., PRESIDENT.Chief Mokgosi III, VICE PRESIDENT.Members.of the African Advisory Council.In attendance:The Director of Education.First Assistant Secretary.The Secretary (Welfare Officer).MINUTES As the Minutes of the last Annual General MeetingOF LAST were circulated, it was agreed to take them as read.ANNUAL Similarly, the Annual Report and Balance SheetR had been circulated and it was agreed to take these&-BANCE also as read.SHEET.CLAUSE Examination of the principle of granting assistance to = Fapplicants, either by Grant or Loan. for the purposeCONSTIT- of building houses. UTION.His Honour explained that the reason why this wasbrought to the notiqe of Council was because the grant for the building of housesdoes not come specificallywithin the terms of this Article, but under Article14(i) grants could be made for any other purposeapproved by the National Council, and it was now aquestion as to whether the grant for the building ofhouses was approved by the National Council. HisHonour invited members to express their view on thematterMr. Kesebonye Seitshiro expressed the view that as.far as a loan was concerned, if, after examining aman's financial position, he is found to be a man ofstanding and able to repay the loan, he should be assisted. Chief TshekediKhama, however, said hefelt that the money should be granted for somethingproductive, and his opinion was shared by Chief Bathoen.Mr Gabelebye Marobela said he felt that as themajority of the Bechuana people derived a living fromcattle, the money should be used to improve the supplyof water which was essential to the cattle, but HisHonour pointed out that water came under the heading of?'Productive Work" and was not on the same footing as ahouse.Mr. Moiwa Sekgoma/...

- 2 -Mr. Molwa Sekgoma pointed out that many disabled

people in the Bamangwato country had not received anyassistance, although they were disabled as a directresult of their Army service, this being apparent onlyafter their return.The Chairman put the question to the vote, as towhether the principle of granting assistance to applicants, either by grant or byloan, for the purpose ofbuilding houses should be admitted. After a vote onthat question, he suggested that the should take a voteon those who agreed with Chief Tshekedi, who said itshould not be and then thoae who said it should be.The members, however, did not quite understand what wasrequired.Chief Kgari pointed out that the people concernedrealised the difficulties, but he thought that if a manapplied for a grant or a loan, and it was proved thathe was in a position to repay, he should be given agrant or a loan.His Honour pointed out, however, that a grant isnot repaid but a loan is. Chief Kgari then expressed the view that if a manapplied for a loan and his position showed that he was able to repay it, the loanshould be granted. Mr- Kema Gaborone agreed withChief Kgari.His Honour said that the meeting should firstdecide whether apsistance of any kind should be given in respect of housing andthen vote on what form thatassistance should take.On a show of hands, 22 were in favour of assistanceof some kind being given and 11 were against.On a further show of hands, 11 were in favour ofex-Soldiers being given assistance by way of a free grant and sixteen were infavour of a loan. (Somemembers voted for both). The position, therefore, is that Council is agreed thatthe principle of assistingex-Servicemen with the granting of loans to build houses should be admitted butthat such assistanceshould be granted by means of a loan only, and shouldnot be a free grant.LE ON The six retiring members of the Committee, who hadserved for three years, were as follows:F Chief Tshekedi Khama,______ Chief Bathoen II, O.B.E.,=77IEE Chief Mokgosi III,Nr- Kesebonye Seitshiro,Mr. Sefhako Pilane,and Mr- Matlhabaphiri, who was co-opted in place ofMr M.T.Chiepe, who resigned during this year.

The Chairman invited nominations for the six members of the Committee in placeof those retiring.Chief Kgari said he thought that the Chiefs elected to the Committee should notbe Chiefs who had been on Active Service, as they might be prejudiced, and heproposed that the retiring members of the Committee

- 3should be re-elected en bloc, as members had not had an opportunity ofconsidering alternatives. His Honour said that Council should not be bound byChief Kgari's suggestion and it was open to them to propose anyone they liked,but if any person who was nominated did not wish to stand he could withdraw hisnomination.Chief Mokgosi proposed Chief Kgari. Chief Bathoen seconded this proposal andpointed out that the work was of national importance gnd he thought it advisableto have some new blood on the Committee, especially amongst the Chiefs.Chief Tshekedi Khama asked to be excused from holding office as a Committeemember and proposed Mr. Molwa Sekgoma. The Chairman asked ChiefKgari ifhe agreed to the withdrawal of Chief Tshekedi's nomination, but Chief Kgarideclined to withdraw his nomination 'of Chief Tshekedi as he felt that he wasneeded on the Committee. The Chairman asked Chief Tshekedi Khama if heinsisted on not standing and he replied that he left the decision to Council.Chief Nokgosi proposed Mr- biuthi Pilane.Chief Tshekedi Khama proposed Mr- Stephen Phetlhu.Mr. Muthi Pilane said he wished to withdraw from nomination, but Mr. SefhakoPilane said the Mr. Muthi Pilane was a Mokgatla and had been nominated as amember of the Bakgatla.It was decided to take a ballot. The nominations were:Chief Tshekedi Khama,Chief Bathoen, Chief Mokgosi,Chief Kgari,Mr Molwa Sekgoma,Mr. Phethlu,Mr- Sietshiro,Mr. Sefako Pilane, Mr- Matlhabaphiri.Chief Bathoen said that as he was on the PensionsBoard he would like to withdraw in favour of Chief Kgari, who said that ifCouncil appointed him he would be prepared to accept office.The three Chiefs were then recorded asduly elected, viz:Chief Tshekedi Khama,Chief Iviokgosi,Chief Kgari.On/...

D.

On a ballot being taken, the following members were elected to theCommittee:Mr . IVolwa Sekgoma,Mr- Phethlu,Mr- Sefako Pilane.The Chairman expressed the view that Councilwould join him in thanking the retiring Committee for their work.There being no further business, the Chairman declared the National Counciladjourned.The Meeting adjourned therefore at 12.30 .p.m.

I N D E XAbolition of Barter System except betweenN a t i v e s . . . * *. . H i - o o u r . . . . * Re. . . . ( v ) , ( v i ) , 1 9Address, Opening: by H Honour, t Resident Commissioner ...*. ... 1-15African Taxpayers: Registration of at ageof 18 years .... ... ... ... ... (xxvii), 48-49African Traders: Removal of from scope ofthe credit sales to Natives ...9 viv -50Agenda. ... ... ... ... ... .. iv)Agriculture.. ... ... l.. ... 10-11Agricultural Demonstrators ... .. ... (xii), 27-29Appeals to High Court - Legal representationof Native Authorities. ... ... ... Annexure A 1Appointment of Member for Basubia to AfricanAdvisory Council ... ... ... ... (xxix), 15-16,45-46Assistance to Tribal Administration toobtain goods "in Bond" ... ... ... (xxviii), 34-36Assistant Education Officers: Qualificationsof.. ... ... ... ... ... ... Annexure A 2-3Barter System except between.Natives: .Abolition of ... . .. ... ...Barter System of trade in Native areas:Prohibition of.. ...Basubia: Appointment of Member for, toAfrican Advisory Council ...Bechuanaland Soldiers' Benefit Fund: Adequacy of funds.. ........ ...Bechuanaland Soldiers' Benefit Fund: Reportof Executive Committee of ... ... .Bechuanaland Soldiers' Benefit Fund: AnnualGeneral Meeting of National Council,Agenda ... .. .. ..Bechuanaland Soldiers' Benefit Fund: Minutesof Annual General Meeting on 28.8.48 ... Branding of Stock along Border- ......

Bridges: Construction of. . ... ...Building Programme. ... . ... ...Capital Expenditure'on Tribal Buildings ... Cattle Dipping Tanks: Loans to NativeAdministrations for construction of ...Cattle Improvement: Future Policy of ...Cattle Industry ... ... . . ...Colonial Development & Welfare Fund. ...Colonial Survey & Water Development .. ..Colour Bar... ... ... ... ... ...Communications: Telegraphic ... ...Construction of Bridges.. ...Contributions by Native Treasuries towardscost of Maintenance of Mental Patients.. Co-operation between VeterinaryDepartmentand Native Authorities ...Co-operative Dairies in-Bangwaketse Reserve Council's Reply to ResidentCommissionertsAddress... ... ... ...Creamery at Lobatsi .. ...Credit Sales to Natives. .. ... ...(v), (Vi), 19(vi)(xxix),15-16,45-46Annexure A 4.Annexure B 1-3Annexure CAnnexure D 1 - 4(xi), 26-27, 55 (xxiv), 46-47 17(xix), 44-4523(ix), 20-22 (viii), 20-222Annexure A 1 - 2 (xxiii), 44. (xxii), 42 (xxiv), 46-4737-38(x), 23-25256-592(xiv),49-50

- 2 -Definition of Motor Vehicles plyingfor hire...Designation of Types of Shool. Development Committee . Disposal of Fines inkind'in Natve

Courts ... ... Disease. .. . .. Divorce. ... Draft Estimates 1948/49 ... Doctors.... ...(xvii), 30-31. 18Annexure A 2.43-44, 53. 13(xx), 40-41, 5318, 58..Education ... ... ... ... ... 3-6, 17-19, 57,Annexure A 2 - 3Education Officers.. ... ... ... 18-19Estimates, Draft ... .. . 3Expenditure on Tribal Buildings:Capital ... ... ... ... (xix), 44-45Expenditure... ... ... ... ... 3Finance. ... ...Fines in kind in Native Courts: Disposalof... ... *..Fingerprints: Orders by Native Courtsfor the taking of ...Fitzgerald Commission ... ... ...Foot and Mouth Disease ... ...Geological and Mineral Survey... Goods "In Bond": Assistance to TribalAdministration ... ...Graded Taxation .. .Graded Taxation Committee: Meeting of Grain Storage. ... ... ... ...Harragin, C.v.G., K.C.: Sir dalter ... Heads of Departments & AdministrativeOfficers present. . .. .Herbalists, Quack: Africans who act'as High Commissioner: Visit of toBechuanaland ProtectorateHigh Velocity Rifles Huggard, K.C.: Sir Walter. . ..Hunting of Game in Native Reserves ...Inter-district Tax Collections.. ..."Kgosi Tshegofhatsa Afrika": Suitabilityof as National Song of Prayer ... 33Legal Representation of Native Authorities: Appeals to High'Court.. ... ...Anegislation ... ... ...... 12Limitation of Numbers of pupils in -+Middle Schools... . ... .. AmLivestock Improvement ... .. ... (vLoans to Native Administrations forconstruction of Cattle DippingTanks ... ... 23Lunatics: Contributions'by NativeTreasuries for maintenance of i.. (x

2-343-44, 53(xxx) , 46 1, 56 19, 57-582(xxvii), 34-36 50-51 53. xxxi -(xxxiv) xiii), 54-55(ii)Annexure A1, 56Annexure A.1.SAnnexure A(xviii), 31-33nexure A i.-13nexure A3. ii), 20-22vi), 37-38

-3-Maintenance of Lunatics: Contributionsby Native Treasuries for... Malaria ..Marriage by Specil Licence... Memorial to deceased Soldiers. Medical ... .. .. Members present: List of Mental Patients: Contributions by NativeTreasuries towards cost of maintenanqeof. .. .. .. .. 0. . .Methylated Spirits: Control of Middle Schools ... ...Milk Products Ltd., Lobatsi... ...Motor Vehicle plying for hire: Definitionof. ... ... S.. *.. 0.. ...National Song of Prayer: Suitability of"Kgosi Shegofhatsa Afrika" .Native Authorities: Co-operation betweenVeterinary Department and..... Native Courts: Orders by, for taking offinger prints.. ...Obituary ... ......Opening Address by His'Honour, the ResidentCommissioner ... .... . ...Orders by Native Courts for taking oftingaer prints. .s ... . ..Out-patiants' fees: Proposed incre,-se in.(xvi), 37-38 14-15 (xxi), 41-42 Annexure A 3 12-15, 58(i)37-38 Annexure A 2. 18, Annexure .A 3 2,56(xvii), 30-3133(x),23-25

(xxxl 461-21xxx), 46 xv), 38-40Parish, Mr E: Retirement of ... ... 1Police . .. . .. ...... 11-12Poliomyelitis ... ... ... ... ... 13-14Progress Report... ... ... ... ... Annexure A 1-4Quack Herbalists: Africans who act as ...Rabies * . i r c Ta ; ar ' t "Registration of African Taxpayers'at theage of 18 years .... . ...Reply by Council to His Honour, theResident Commissioner's Address.. ..Resident Commissionerts Operiing Address... Rqvenue ... ... ...Rifles; High Velocity-. ... ... ..Sanitary arrangements for Members ofCouncil.. .... ..Schools: Designation of types of ... Sheep Dip and Vaccines: Payment for.Sleeping Sickness ...Small Pox... ... ...Small Pox Vaccination... Special Licence: Marriage by.. Stock Improvement -Cattle IndustryFuture Policy of Cattle ImprovementAnnexure A 314(xxvii), 48-49 56-59 1-153Annexure A 3.*. 58-59Annexure A 2 .. 1414Annexure A 1 (xxi), 41-4220-22 (ix)

-4-TAP Committee... ... ... ... ...Taxation, Graded .....Tax Collections: Inter-district... Taxpayers, African: Registration at ageof 18 years.. ... ... .. ...Teacher Training Centre at Kanye.. ..Teachers with Degrees: Appointment of... Telegraphic Communications.. ...Trade Monopoly- ... ... ... ...Trade School ... .... ...Traders, African: Removal of from scope

of the credit sales to.Natives.Tribal Agricultural Production and Lands Tribal Buildings: Capital Expenditureon51-5250-51(xviii) , 31-33(xxvii), 48-49 44, 57 Annexure A 2-3 (xxii), 42 (xxv), 33-34, Annexure A 349-50Annexure A 2 (xix), 44-45Uniforms for Tribal Employees: Purchasethrough Government. ... ... ... 36-37Vaccines and Sheep Dip: Payment for ... Veterinary ..... VeterinaryDepartment: Co-operation between Native Authorities and... ...Voluntary Contributions by small communities for local projects.. ... ...Washing Facilities for Members of Council Water Development and ColonialSurvey... Weights and Measures.. ...Annexure A 2 6-10(x), 23-25 (xxvi), 5559Annexure A 1-2 Annexure A 1-... - 000 -----DD-No.4IO-1.II.48.