CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 535

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out of touch with the West.

529

While thus absent it is ad-

visable that he should have a capable officer to represent

him to carry on the routine work of his office, and to hear

any complaints which may have come from an equally distant

point. It is moreover desirable that when in a detached

district, either the District Officer of the Assistant Dis-

trict Officer should be able to deal with all questions

which may arise there, including Land questions which are

intimately associated with administrative questions, and thus

obviate the necessity of a separate visit from the Assis-

tant Land Officer. on a matter which might easily have been

settled by the District Officer.

8.

Finally, in my view the most im-

portant object of these proposals is to promote continuity

of policy and method. This is a vital factor in the suc-

cessful administration of an ignorant and primitive people,

and promotes contentment and acquiescence in the system em-

ployed. This is at least as important among Chinese pea-

santry as among the African races of whom I have experience,

for they are a conservative race, tenacious of traditional

customs (of which a knowledge is essential to the officer

placed over them) resentful of innovation and of changes of

method, but not difficult to control and guide by officers

whom they have learned to trust, and by methods to which

they