British East Africa 73 Grica] LABOUR -remote districts offer the best chances of new labour recruits, though these have, of course , to be trained to their work. Uptill now the labour question has been less pressing in Uganda than in the areas of the East Africa Protectorate which are occupied by the farms and plantations of European settlers. Perhaps the most satisfactory agricultural labourer is the Kikuyu, who is moderately intelligent and has a natural aptitude for machinery. The Kavirondo and Wakamba also providelabour for general farm work. The Somali or Swahili is useful as houseboy or as cara van-leader. The Wanyamwezi are said to be the best porters . The Nandi and Masai are good cattle-herds, and can be trained as grooms for horses. Indians are employed for house-building, carpentry, and artisan work . Near the coast the plantations are mainly worked by Teita and Swahili labour.

The quality of the labour available varies greatly. The raw native has usually to be trained inthe simplest forms of work, and to be kept under careful supervision afterwards. But it is generally admitted that the East African native isadaptable and quick to pick up details of work . For instance, the general manager of the Uganda Railway, in the Administration Report for 1916-17 , records his opinion thatnatives can , by train ing and experience, become skilled and usefulworkmen, and are already proving ofgreat service in the railway and other industries of the Protectorate.

The general conclusions, therefore, which can be fairly drawn are that , although native labourers almost always require training and supervision, and although in certain localities and for certain classes of work the demand for labour at present exceeds the supply, the natural aptitude of the East African native for both agricultural and industrial work isabove the average, and is capable of considerable development: while the supply oflabour available will grow with the natural increase of the population undergood government, with the opening up of remoter districts, and with the growing appreciation by the natives of the conveniences and refinements of civilization.