PART II. 
In reply to the Chairman, Mr. Kirby stated that he was satisfied 
with the discussion and grateful for the information that it had 
evoked. 
THE USE OF EXTENDED NATIVE ADMINISTRATION FOR 
AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS. 
Mr. KIRBY read the following paper (referred to in the Agenda as 
T.C.(C)Ag.13) : — 
The giving of greater responsibility and powers to native 
administrations, under advice, has two important results: the 
formation of centres of main activity (native court sites) distributed 
usefully throughout each district, and the possession of funds by the 
native administration which are directly available for the benefit of 
those for which the administration works. 
The position of agriculture as the sole native industry brings it 
about that the best use of those funds for all is to assist in the increase 
and improvement of husbandry (sometimes including ploughing) and 
of the plants used in husbandry. (Other non-agricultural matters, 
such as the similar provision of secondary roads, native court 
buildings, dispensaries, are not for consideration here.) 
This means that each district community provides for its own 
intimate needs; whilst ail share in the necessary territorial provision 
under the Estimates for supplying general (including agricultural) 
administration, the general fostering and protection of agricultural 
industries, and the means of transport (roads and railways) for which 
Government is usually responsible in the tropics. 
Gavernment Estimates of Expenditure thus become territorial in 
extent and application; and items (often of pitiable magnitude) 
intended for direct, localised assistance can be considered for removal 
from them. At the same time the ‘‘ domestic *’ funds of each district 
community can be expended in intimate relationship to its needs, 
under the direction of Central Departments which will prevent wild 
expenditure lacking fitness in regard to the conditions of the area and 
therefore uneconomic. 
The agricultural phase of the matter can now be considered in 
more detail. An obvious use of Native Court centres is as stations 
where agricultural activity for the surrounding areas begins and 
radiates. The first stage at these is the growing of crops in the correct 
ways In plots belonging to chiefs or the more influential natives, in 
co-operation between them and the Agricultural Department, such 
piots being used also for crops or strains or varieties of crops whose 
success in the area is still uncertain; and parallel work is carried out 
in the school gardens. Arising from these plots, or organized side- 
by-side with them, are seed-farms used for obtaining quickly increased 
supplies of seed of crops of proved value, for distribution under careful 
control and record; and here again the school garden will be usefully 
emp.oyed, provided that care is taken that its area is not extended, 
for this or any other purpose, to a degree that entails drugery to its 
pupils, and instead of helping agriculture makes it unpopular as early 
as possible.  Seed-farms do not serve as a useful means of merely 
supplying seed on a general scale to natives; for their conduct for this 
purpose would usually make them disproportionally large and 
expensive, and their output would be smallest in the most unfavour- 
able seasons, at the very time when, owing to partial failure of their 
own resources, the demand for seed by natives is greatest. 
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