RHODESIA 
241 
On October 1, 1923, the new Governor, Sir John Chancel- 
lor, proclaimed the existence of the new Dominion, and Sir 
Charles Coghlan took office as Prime Minister. His party, 
since the attainment of responsible government rechristened 
the Rhodesian Party, had won twenty-six out of the thirty 
legislative seats, the other four being carried by the Labor 
Party, so that the ex-Unionist Party was completely elimi- 
nated. The new Government promptly floated a loan of 
£3,000,000 at a lower rate of interest than could be obtained 
by many of the older colonies. It paid off the sum due to 
Great Britain and started with a fund of over £500,000 for 
public improvements, although it had assumed responsibil- 
ity for the deficit since April 1, 1923. In spite of a poor 
harvest and the prohibition imposed by the Hertzog Govern- 
ment upon the importation of Rhodesian cattle into the 
Union of South Africa, the new Government started off well 
and won the elections of 1924 even more decisively than 
those of 1923. 
The immense value of the great Rhodesian territories can- 
not be doubted. Southern Rhodesia, with its 149,000 
square miles of fertile plateaus and uplands, and its favor- 
able climatic conditions, is a suitable country in every re- 
spect for the white man, and some day will support a large 
population of European extraction. The population in 1921 
was only 33,620 whites in the midst of some 800,000 natives; 
but every possible encouragement is being given to immi- 
grants. The native reserves contain about 24 acres apiece 
or 120 per family; but this leaves open to the occupation of 
the whites an area of nearly 120,000 square miles. Maize is 
the chief crop, but citrous fruits, tobacco, wheat, peanuts, 
and cotton are grown. The number of cattle approaches 
2,000,000, and a concession has been granted for a refrigerat- 
ing plant which with certain restrictions will have a mo- 
nopoly of exporting beef. Agriculture has made consider-