KENYA GOLD [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sot,—You sum
up in the neatest manner possible the three cardinal facts which govern the situation with regard to Kenya gold ; first, that the gold will be won, secondly, that the Government cannot win it, thirdly, that native rights must be protected. There seems no doubt that gold exists in quantities, but will it prove to be in payable quantities ? I recall that a few years ago a bright genius made a laborious calculation which proved (at least to his satisfaction) that the total cash cost of gold, won on the Rand actually exceeded the 51,000,000,000 worth of gold obtained in forty years !
But the gold has been found in areas set aside by legislation for native reserves, hence the major problem is how can the gold be won and yet at the same time give the natives a " square deal " ? I suggest that at least the following are essential : (a) Wherever native surface rights are taken, other land equal, as may be, in area and value, be added to the reserve areas ; (b) Compensation for disturbance on the same basis as would be paid to white occupiers ; (c) Any land which may be found to be non-gold bearing to be restored to the natives. Finally, and this is surely a just and common-sense demand, a modest levy on the value of the minerals won to be earmarked for
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