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40. As a Preguitars aflf these difficulties the acreage

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of

March 31, 1948, was only 7,500

under crop at

Pacfu 178 of 1997 flattened in that year, and notes. Only 13,746 acres of bush had been

all of it had been windrowed, rooted and

made fit for agricultural operations.

Decision that the Corporation should take over

41. In the autumn of 1947 Mr. Plummer and General Harrison visited Tanganyika in company with Mr. William A. Faure, Managing Director of the Managing Agency. It became apparent that in dealing with the obviously serious administrative problems, the division of responsibility between the Managing Agency (with only transitory obligation) and the Members- Designate of the Corporation (who at that time could only advise) was an interim solution which could not be long continued. The serious nature of the difficulties in East Africa made it imperative that the day-to-day decisions should be in the hands of the people who were to be ultimately responsible for the Scheme.

42. As an outcome of this visit the Overseas Food Corporation, at the request of the Minister of Food, took over responsibility for the direction of the East African Groundnuts Scheme on March 1, 1948. And on April 1, 1948, the Corporation took over from the Managing Agents the day-to-day direction of operations in East Africa.

Memorandum on taking over

43. When the Overseas Food Corporation took over from the Managing Agency they prepared a document setting out the position as they found it. This document which was handed to the Ministry of Food is reproduced. as Appendix IV. The memorandum set out four of the main problems. which the Corporation had to meet :

(i) the gravely inadequate repair and maintenance services for the tractors, agricultural machines and motor transport of all kinds; (ii) the absence in East Africa of a proper system for the receipt, pricing

and physical custody of all the various stores required;

(iii) the inadequate organisation for controlling expenditure. in East.

Africa;

(iv) the inadequacy of control of the Contractors' work

Value of the first year's work

44. Measured against the estimates of the White Paper, progress in the first year was small. Reasons have already been given to show why it is doubtful that these earlier estimates could have been achieved. They were the vision-a splendid vision for Africa, but a vision beyond attainment by a new organisation in the difficult post-war years, with its shortages and delays of all kinds. Measured against intractable Africa the progress was, in fact, considerable. Men and materials had been assembled and experience had been gained, weaknesses had been revealed, but the Scheme in its future development was already and inevitably shaped.

45. The Managing Agency in submitting its report to the Minister of Food on its first year's work said: "If this year's achievement were to be measured solely by the acreage planted, the results would not only be dis- appointing, but even discouraging. Such an inference would, however, be ill-founded, since it would ignore the major accomplishments of this period. The decision to proceed immediately and in headlong manner on an im- provised basis has been amply justified by the valuable experience gained, by the acquisition 28f heavy clearing equipment anpather materials) which

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