ROTARY CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 March 1939, Page 7

ROTARY CLUB

ADDRESS BY DR C. D. WILKINS. LIFE ON THE GOLD COAST. A most interesting address on life on the Gold Coast of Western Africa', often described as the “White Man’s Grave,” was given at yesterday’s luncheon oi the Masterton Rotary Club by Dr. C. Debden Wilkins, who in recent years has travelled in many parts of the world. Dr. Wilkins’s parents reside in Carterton.

Describing conditions on the Gold Coast, Dr. Wilkins said that the same foolish and short-sightea policy of taking all the fertility' out of the land that was being followed in New Zealand existed in Western Africa. The early history and climatic conditions were discussed by Dr. Wilkins, whc said that the/ population of the Gold Coast proper was estimated at about four millions. He thought it was probably more than that as the birth rate was extraordinarily high. The native women expected to have from 20 to 30 children during their life-time and, in fact, were disappointed if they did not. The infantile death rate, however, was about 50 per cent. The customs of the natives were based on their social organisation. Ownership of land was not handed down from father to son but from mother to daughter. The head of a family was not the father but the mother’s eldest brother. A wife was any female relation. A bottle of gin was the normal currency of courtesy and a man could not even be buried without a bottle of gin. Children were named after the day on which they were born but when they reached adult age they were free to choose a name for themselves.

The president, Rotarian H. H. Daniell, farewelled Mr A. E. Bate, who for eight years held the position of secretary to the club. He referred to his good work in the interests of Rotary and wished him every success in his new position in Auckland. In thanking Mr Daniell for his kind remarks, Mr Bate said he only regretted that his work in Auckland would prevent him from joining another Rotary Club on account of travelling. He was grateful to the club for the education it had given him in good fellowship. He would take away from pleasant memories of Masterton and particularly of the Masterton Rotary Club Dr Wilkins was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Rotarian G. W. Sellar.