REFERENCE No.12

110

COPY OF LETTER

from T.L. Gilmour, Esq., Director and Manager in London of the Mozambique Company, during the period Mr. Dawe was in the service of the Mozambique Company, replying to an enquiry from a Company desirous of securing Mr. Dawe's services for a planting scheme in South Africa, dated November 1913:

"I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 22nd inst. asking me whether, from my knowledge of Mr. Dawe, I can recommend him in every way as regards capability, industry and sobriety."

"I can at once answer to these enquiries in the affirmative, but you may be glad of a somewhat more detailed statement of my acquaintance with and opinion of Mr. Dawe. While I was a Director, and manager in London, of the Mozambique Company, we required the services of an agricultural expert, and on my consulting Professor W.R. Dunstan, F.R.S., Director of the Imperial Institute, he strongly recommended Mr. Dawe, at that time in the service of Uganda Government, for the post. I visited Africa myself in 1911, and had an opportunity of examining Mr. Dawe's work on the spot, and of hearing the opinions expressed, not only by the officials of the local Administration, but by farmers and others with whom Mr. Dawe was brought into contact. I may say in a word that I did not hear a single unfavourable opinion expressed, while frequent observations were made as to the tact and ability with which Mr. Dawe discharged his duties. I formed the opinion that he was the hardest worker in the Territory. I am not, of course, competent to express any opinion as to his technical qualifications, but I gladly bear testimony to his excellent personal qualifications for such a post as you suggest."

PALLOFAN