Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/256

 204 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — RHODESTA

Johntton (Sir Harry), The Colonisation of Africa. Cambridge, 1899. Lioj/d(E.), Three African Chief*. London, 1895.

Mackenzie (W. D.), Life of John Mackenzie, South African Missionary and Statesman, London, 1902.

MaeNab (Frances), On Veldt and Farm, 2nd ed. London, 1900. Pas»arge (Fr.) Die Kalahari. Berlin, 1904.

RHODESIA.

Under the title of Rhodesia is included the whole of the region extending from the Transvaal Province northwards to the borders of the Congo State and the late German East Africa (now Tanganyika Territory), bounded on the east by Portuguese East Africa, Nyasaland. and the Tanganyika Territory, and on the west by the Congo State, Portuguese West Africa, and Bechuanaland. The whole territory is under the administration of the British South Africa Company, which holds a Royal Charter dated October 29, 1889. The region south of the Zambezi (Matabeleland aud Mashonaland) is called Southern Rhodesia ; that north of the Zambezi is known as Northern Rhodesia.

The administrative system of the Company in Southern Rhodesia is prescribed by Orders in Council, the last dated 1916. To assist the Company's Administrator there is an Executive Council consisting of not less than three members appointed for three years by the Company with the approval of the Secretary of State. There is also a Legislative Council, which consists of the Administrator (president), six nominees of the Company approved by the Secretary of State, and twelve members elected by the registered voters. Women have the vote. The duration of each Legislative Council is three years, unless it be sooner dissolved. Ordinances passed by the Legislative Council when assented to by the High Commissioner take effect immediately, but within a year may be disallowed by the Secretary of State. There is a Resident Commissioner appointed by the Secretary of State, with a seat on both the Executive and Legislative Councils, but without a vote. For the administration of justice there is a High Court with civil aud criminal jurisdiction. In the districts there are Magistrates' Courts. There is a chief Native Commissioner, with subordinate Superintendents of Divisions, Native Commissioners and Assistant Native Commissioners, and, except with respect to anus, ammunition, and liquor, natives and Europeans are under the same conditions.

Land has been set apart for tribal settlements, the mineral rights being reserved ("native reserves") to the Company. It has been decided that the ownership of the unalienated land vests in the Crown, but the Company, so long as it is responsible for the government of the country, may dispose of such land in the due course of administration.

Southern Rhodesia has an area of 149,000 square miles. According to the census taken on May 7, 1911, the European population was 23,606, but at the end of 1919 it was estimated to be about 38,000. The native population of Southern Rhodesia iaestimated (1910) at about 770,000. There are also approximately :5,000 Asiatics and other coloured persons. The chief towns are Salisbury (the capital of Southern Rhodesia), Bulawayo, Victoria, Umtali, Gwelo, Enkeldoorn, Melsetter, Hartley, Selukwe, Gwauda, and Gatooma.

The schools in Southern Rhodesia for Europeans numbered, at the end of 1919, 77 public and 4 aided. The pupils in 1919 numbered 4,674, and the total expenditure on education was 12f>,5fl4/. There were also