African Trial Goes On the Air

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 55, 20 March 1937, Page 18

African Trial Goes On the Air

LOBATSI, Beehuanaland. — Arnyai of a set of loudspeakers from Johannesburg solved the difficult problem of eaabling hundreds of natives, who had traveled here by train, lorry, car, bioycle and, on foot to follow the proceedings of a lawsuit in which . they were vitally interested. _• The suit was one in which Tshekedi and Bathoen, cMefs of the Bamangwato and the Banwaketse, contested the validity of two proclamations issued by the High Commissioner in 1935. The small court at Lobatsi is able to acc.ommodate.'only some 50 njembers of the public, and for three days a large number of .natives sat patiently outsido the court house groimds, awaiting tho reports of their more fortunate fellowa who had been allowed access to the court. Tshekedi and his fellow chiefs then approajched the judge hearing the . case and obtained permission to install loudspeakers, with the result that 500 natives were ' able to sit outside and listen with rapt attention to the evidence. . The expenses connected with this arrangement amounted tO some £120 and the money was found by the chiefs themselves.