278. In addition, 463 non-African and 445 trainees were in the employ of the Corporation. It will be noted that the labour force doubled during the year.
279. The African has shown a capacity and a willingness to learn. He has been particularly adaptable at transport driving and simple maintenance, also at light and heavy tractor driving, and he has shown skill in the operation of agricultural and land-clearing equipment. Simple mechanical work of a repetitive kind is well within his ability, and many Africans have made rapid progress in carpentry and joinery. Naturally, the African has much to learn, and too many who show early promise fail to stay the course. Problem of "Skilled" Workers
280. The chief drawback has been the quality of the "skilled" labour. That drawn from labour exchanges has been getting progressively worse. At Urambo, for example, the performance of skilled labour was, on the whole, rather poor. Jalua and Wakamba tribesmen from Kenya, and the Wasukuma tribesmen from Tanganyika, showed the greatest promise. But nowhere can it be said that a skilled African is comparable to a skilled European or a skilled Asian.
281. Certain types of skilled workers cannot be obtained from among East Africans, e.g., superior clerks and technicians such as generator operators, refrigerator repairers, mechanics and carpenters. As the local Indian is not an applicant for employment, the Corporation turned to Mauritius and the Seychelles for this type of labour, and 200 men were obtained. Such skilled African workers as are available were obtained chiefly from Tanganyika and Kenya. Many offered their services at the doorstep, and thousands of written applications were received. The Labour Departments of the Governments of Tanganyika and Kenya rendered great assistance and did all they could to meet the Corporation's needs.
282. Ifunda Training Centre [see paras. 311 et seq.] started to turn out partially trained workers. They are apprenticed to the Corporation for four years and as they complete only a six months' course at Ifunda, the onus of on-training rests on the foremen and supervisors to whom they are posted.
Unskilled Labour
283. Unskilled labour offered itself in sufficient quantity in all Regions to satisfy the needs of the Corporation and its Contractors. A severe shortage was, however, felt by the Contractors engaged in constructing the railway from Mkwaya and Mtwara to Nachingwea, and the Port of Mtwara. The two chief causes of this shortage were:-
(a) The African in the Southern Province grows sufficient foodstuffs to maintain both himself and his family, with a surplus for sale. He can, therefore, maintain his standard of living and pay his taxes without having to work.
(b) The railway construction entails hard manual labour and is unpopular. 284. The railway labour position has improved, largely due to a temporary food shortage in the Province, improved man-management, and recruiting efforts made by the Corporation.
Labour Utilisation
285. The utilisation of Labour was far from satisfactory. There is little doubt that the Labour force could have been considerably reduced had proper utilisation been employed in all Departments. The Corporation had a large number of Foofans working with the Africans pedid not know
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