Anglo-Malagasy Society Newsletter 5: June 1979 |
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Annual dinner and AGM
The Annual Dinner at the House of Lords on 16 March 1979 was attended by 62 members and guests. Among those welcomed by Lord Merrivale were Mr Alan Horn, former Ambassador in Madagascar, and Mrs Horn; and Mr John Robson, head of the Africa Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Mrs Robson; Madagascar had just come ‘under his wing’. The Chairman thanked the F&CO for reversing the 1975 decision and for taking steps to open a mini-Mission in Madagascar in 1979. That was a practical expression of Lord Goronwy-Roberts’ statement in October 1975 that the Government agreed with the Chairman’s view that the ‘closer our relations are with Madagascar the better for both countries’. (The Embassy was also discussed by Mr Peter Moon, non-resident Ambassador, when visiting the Malagasy Foreign Minister on 13 Feb 1979, as reported in the Malagasy press). Lord Merrivale announced that on the initiative of Dr Rabenoro, former Malagasy Ambassador in London, and others it had been decided to revive the Malagasy branch of the Society.
When holding the AGM on 15 May 1979 the Society experienced the usual generous hospitality of Ove Arup & Partners. Over 40 members and friends were present for the evening. The retiring Committee members were re-elected. The Chairman referred again to the re-opening of the Embassy and said that UK exports, with which any Embassy had to be concerned, were disappointingly low, but opportunities might grow for consultancies. The cultural work of the Embassy would be properly emphasised. It was interesting to note that Mr R Goldsmith, formerly a Cabinet Secretary, represented the European Development Fund in Antananarivo. The Treasurer reported that the number of corporate members was rising.
When holding the AGM on 15 May 1979 the Society experienced the usual generous hospitality of Ove Arup & Partners. Over 40 members and friends were present for the evening. The retiring Committee members were re-elected. The Chairman referred again to the re-opening of the Embassy and said that UK exports, with which any Embassy had to be concerned, were disappointingly low, but opportunities might grow for consultancies. The cultural work of the Embassy would be properly emphasised. It was interesting to note that Mr R Goldsmith, formerly a Cabinet Secretary, represented the European Development Fund in Antananarivo. The Treasurer reported that the number of corporate members was rising.
Rare plants
After the AGM, the Hon Laura Ponsonby of Kew Gardens gave a talk on The Rare Plants of Madagascar, illustrated by slides taken during a recent visit and by exhibits from the Kew collections, some over a century old. The plants shown came both from the thick eastern forest and from the curious xerophilous forest of the south. These, together with interesting references to Darwin’s reasoning about Angraecum orchids, demonstrated the truth of the quoted remark of a German botanist that Madagascar ‘is one of the most fascinating places on earth’.
General Ramanantsoa
General Ramanantsoa, who took over from President Tsiranana – though not in a military coup – in the crisis of 1972, died in May aged 73. With various difficulties still unresolved he thought it best to hand over his duties to a younger man who, as President Ratsimandrava, was assassinated after only a few days in office. From that time the General seems to have taken no further part in public life.
‘If all the presidents…’
In connection with the International Year of the Child a London newspaper claimed to have ‘sent reporters round the globe to find out how they (the children) would like to improve their lot’. Henri Rason of Madagascar, aged 11, said: ‘If all the Presidents of the countries worked together more closely and held more talks about their problems, the world would be a much better place to live in’. Henri’s photo was also published. Another link with children’s interests is provided by the report that 19 countries have approached the UN Children’s Fund (and other bodies) to organise a project to control endemic goitre. This might help areas in Madagascar where cases of goitre are noticeable – possibly, in the light of recent research elsewhere, linked with the considerable consumption of manioc.
Visiting archbishop
The Anglican Church has been in Madagascar since 1864 and the ‘Bishop in Madagascar’ was directly linked with Canterbury. But in 1973 the Province of the Indian Ocean was formed, with five dioceses (Antananarivo, Tamatave, Diego; Mauritius; Seychelles). The first Archbishop, Bp Curtis, has retired to that island which recalls the notorious belief of some in the past that Madagascar is ‘about the size of the Isle of Wight’. The present Bishop of Mauritius and Archbishop is Bp Trevor Huddleston. He has visited Madagascar during his first year, though no article giving his impressions is to hand at the moment.
International service
Last year the Society heard from Jill Harmsworth about the projects of United Nations International Service, in line with the policy of sending ‘qualified and experienced people to work with the world’s underprivileged – an act of international cooperation, a contribution to world development, and an expression of the concerns of UNA membership’. She is back after several more months in Madagascar and hopes that before long a clear programme for British volunteers will be agreed with the Malagasy Government. A UNAIS brochure How Commitment Helps the Third World includes a photo and a note on Madagascar, ‘a country of green hills and dusty plains’.
Long life
Though some have died young from malaria or other causes, many British persons who have lived in Madagascar have reached their 80s and 90s, one of the best-known being James Sibree, who was still busy (and writing with a copperplate hand) at 93, till knocked down and killed by a motorcycle in the Waterloo Road. In a biographical notice written a couple of years ago for an encyclopaedia it was said that W E Cousins, who was in Madagascar 1862–1899 and died in 1939 a few months short of becoming a centenarian, was probably the oldest of all Europeans who had lived there. But even before the notice has come back from the printers it has been outdated. Olaf Hodgkin left Madagascar in poor health in 1919. He revisited the island when 88 and emigrated to Australia when over 90. On 16 April 1979 he celebrated his 100th birthday in Perth, Australia. In the same vein it may be noted that the writer of the notice, on one hand, recently had tea with a lady who left Madagascar in 1893 – and has been interested ever since; and on the other hand, to balance the longevity account, had occasion to write to a Malagasy whose marriage took place in 1899. (The dates are more easily proved than those of the Malagasy lady who a few years ago claimed to have been born in the 1830s and was recalling her travels in the 1860s.)
Manifesto
Under the heading Protest in Madagascar the Church Times of 23 February reported that a delegation of Malagasy Church leaders had presented a 10-page ‘manifesto’ to the President of the Republic, complaining of the Government’s failure to check the deterioration in political, economic and social life. The leaders were the Roman Catholic Cardinal, the Anglican Bishop of Antananarivo and another Anglican; and the President of the Federation of Protestant Churches (formerly Chairman of the National Assembly). The report also stated that a second manifesto was likely to be presented to the Minister of Education, protesting at the politicising of education, especially at the higher levels.
Cyclone
On Boxing Day, the Tulear area was struck by a cyclone which caused over 35 deaths and made over 15,000 homeless. It has been described as the worst cyclone in Madagascar since 1952.
Material on Madagascar
It may be interesting and useful to provide a systematic list of some of the material, other than books, which is available in Britain.
Photographs The USPG (15 Tufton St, London SW1) has over 60 photographic enlargements of the country, life of the people and of the Christian community available for exhibitions. Prints can be ordered. Keystone Press (52 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1) has a small file of photos from 1932, 1942 (British at Diego), 1958 (Republic) and some undated; a file of 9 photos of lemurs, in US zoos; the only colour photo is of ‘Miss Madagascar’ (Miss World Competition, 1960s). A wall-chart entitled Madagascar with four very large colour photos is sold by Educational Productions Ltd (Bradford Rd, East Ardsley, Wakefield, W Yorkshire).
Film-strips People and Places of Madagascar (from USPG, as above); Seeds of Life in Madagascar & Wales and Madagascar (both from CWM, 11 Carteret St, London SW1; only a few frames are directly related to Wales; available for hire or purchase, with recorded commentary).
Film The Book that would not Burn can be hired from International Films (235 Shaftesbury Av, London WC2) and from BYFC Films and Services (Lichfield St, Wolverhampton). The film was produced by an American professional company in Madagascar with a fully Malagasy cast. The story is that of Ranivo in the 1840s (the only one of a group of Christians not to be dropped over the Ampamarinana cliff in Antananarivo). The film has been dubbed not only into English but also into French, Spanish and Norwegian; Mandarin Chinese to follow.
Maps Stanford (12–14 Long Acre, London WC2) can supply a 1-sheet contour map (scale 1:2,5000,000); and can order any maps listed in International Maps & Atlases in Print. (The Madagascar map by Blaeu, the famous 17th century cartographer, is not in the new Galaxie series of Blaeu facsimiles.)
Booklets The Democratic Republic of Madagascar (Hints to Exporters series) is published by British and Overseas Trade Board (Export House, 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4). The first half is useful for all travellers (including the statement that ‘it is forbidden to take photographs of public buildings… although no notices are posted warning visitors about this’). At the same address, the Statistics and Marketing Intelligence Library can supply Madagascar (USA International Marketing Information series); and Market Profiles for Africa (USA Overseas Business Reports), with 1 page on Madagascar. For those concerned with shipping, a substantial illustrated booklet on Secren (Société d'Exploitation pour Constructions et Réparations Navales, at Diego) is available from the British agents, Keller, Bryant and Co Ltd (58 Mark Lane, London EC3).
Newsletters etc There are three regular publications in English entirely concerned with Madagascar. This twice-yearly Newsletter of the Society is free to all members, though not on public sale. Madnews Is available from Jenny Maker, Q P & S (Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1). The Magazine of the Madagascar Mission Association is available from Rev J Stewart (Northolt Rectory, Mddx). These two publications are free, but contributions are invited to cover costs. The Vaovao FJKM in the two different French and Malagasy editions (10 or more issues of each per year) is available through Mrs Beth Arnold (113 Black Haynes Road, Birmingham).
Petrified Wood from Madagascar ‘160 Million Years Old’ is sold for gifts or prizes by
Marks of Distinction (124 Euston Read, London NW1). (For example, Day’s Autos, Beckenham, won a mounted specimen in the 1978 Bromley in Bloom competition as a Forecourt Award).
Holidays Twickenham Travel (Church St, Twickenham) arranges package-tours, as mentioned in previous Newsletters. The Holiday Inn Hotel Is now open in Nosy-Be, with 120 rooms and ‘conference halls seating 10 to 150 people’. There is a brochure in Italian, English, French and Malagasy (though anyone reading only Malagasy is not informed that there is air-conditioning). Available from Holiday Inn International (10–12 New College Parade, Finchley Rd, London NW3 – an address which recalls the fact that several New College students have worked in Madagascar in the last 100 years. The West African Travel Agency (Empire House, 117/119 Regent St London W1) can arrange return flights to Madagascar, valid for one week to one year, for under £300.
Other material may be mentioned later.
Photographs The USPG (15 Tufton St, London SW1) has over 60 photographic enlargements of the country, life of the people and of the Christian community available for exhibitions. Prints can be ordered. Keystone Press (52 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1) has a small file of photos from 1932, 1942 (British at Diego), 1958 (Republic) and some undated; a file of 9 photos of lemurs, in US zoos; the only colour photo is of ‘Miss Madagascar’ (Miss World Competition, 1960s). A wall-chart entitled Madagascar with four very large colour photos is sold by Educational Productions Ltd (Bradford Rd, East Ardsley, Wakefield, W Yorkshire).
Film-strips People and Places of Madagascar (from USPG, as above); Seeds of Life in Madagascar & Wales and Madagascar (both from CWM, 11 Carteret St, London SW1; only a few frames are directly related to Wales; available for hire or purchase, with recorded commentary).
Film The Book that would not Burn can be hired from International Films (235 Shaftesbury Av, London WC2) and from BYFC Films and Services (Lichfield St, Wolverhampton). The film was produced by an American professional company in Madagascar with a fully Malagasy cast. The story is that of Ranivo in the 1840s (the only one of a group of Christians not to be dropped over the Ampamarinana cliff in Antananarivo). The film has been dubbed not only into English but also into French, Spanish and Norwegian; Mandarin Chinese to follow.
Maps Stanford (12–14 Long Acre, London WC2) can supply a 1-sheet contour map (scale 1:2,5000,000); and can order any maps listed in International Maps & Atlases in Print. (The Madagascar map by Blaeu, the famous 17th century cartographer, is not in the new Galaxie series of Blaeu facsimiles.)
Booklets The Democratic Republic of Madagascar (Hints to Exporters series) is published by British and Overseas Trade Board (Export House, 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4). The first half is useful for all travellers (including the statement that ‘it is forbidden to take photographs of public buildings… although no notices are posted warning visitors about this’). At the same address, the Statistics and Marketing Intelligence Library can supply Madagascar (USA International Marketing Information series); and Market Profiles for Africa (USA Overseas Business Reports), with 1 page on Madagascar. For those concerned with shipping, a substantial illustrated booklet on Secren (Société d'Exploitation pour Constructions et Réparations Navales, at Diego) is available from the British agents, Keller, Bryant and Co Ltd (58 Mark Lane, London EC3).
Newsletters etc There are three regular publications in English entirely concerned with Madagascar. This twice-yearly Newsletter of the Society is free to all members, though not on public sale. Madnews Is available from Jenny Maker, Q P & S (Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1). The Magazine of the Madagascar Mission Association is available from Rev J Stewart (Northolt Rectory, Mddx). These two publications are free, but contributions are invited to cover costs. The Vaovao FJKM in the two different French and Malagasy editions (10 or more issues of each per year) is available through Mrs Beth Arnold (113 Black Haynes Road, Birmingham).
Petrified Wood from Madagascar ‘160 Million Years Old’ is sold for gifts or prizes by
Marks of Distinction (124 Euston Read, London NW1). (For example, Day’s Autos, Beckenham, won a mounted specimen in the 1978 Bromley in Bloom competition as a Forecourt Award).
Holidays Twickenham Travel (Church St, Twickenham) arranges package-tours, as mentioned in previous Newsletters. The Holiday Inn Hotel Is now open in Nosy-Be, with 120 rooms and ‘conference halls seating 10 to 150 people’. There is a brochure in Italian, English, French and Malagasy (though anyone reading only Malagasy is not informed that there is air-conditioning). Available from Holiday Inn International (10–12 New College Parade, Finchley Rd, London NW3 – an address which recalls the fact that several New College students have worked in Madagascar in the last 100 years. The West African Travel Agency (Empire House, 117/119 Regent St London W1) can arrange return flights to Madagascar, valid for one week to one year, for under £300.
Other material may be mentioned later.
Produce of Madagascar
Packaged beans are the most easily recognisable ‘produce of Madagascar’ in Britain, but they are not the only crop. One member of the Society has said that ‘the outlook for agricultural produce looks bright’ – and that includes possible exports, some of which could well come to this country.
The varied climate ranging from tropical forest to desert makes possible a wide variety of agricultural products. But with a population of over 8 million in a country of nearly a quarter of a million square miles its potential is not fully realised. A recent estimate is that nearly half that area could be used as arable land, though the word ‘arable’ may cover a fairly wide range of fertility. It might he expected that the new emphasis on decision-making by the local community would have stimulated a wider use of traditional labour-intensive technology for conveying water long distances in channels flanking the hills and an extension perhaps of the hillside terracing seen in Fianarantsoa region. But, however that may be, development programmes have been started to develop the island’s potential – their ‘style’ following the series of ‘current’ patterns over the years. Major help has been given by eg EEC, World Bank, the Eastern bloc. Some plans have achieved much; others (notably in cattle-raising) have been less successful, sometimes meeting local opposition. Among the most successful have been Groundnut and Cotton schemes. Increased production of cotton is being linked with important growth in the cloth industry, partly with a view to production for export. For example, in December a big extension to the SOTEMA factory at Majunga was opened. (The finance came from an interesting variety of sources: the Malagasy Bank for Industry; Seditex Engineering and DEG of Germany; two sources in Switzerland; the Mediterranean Bank Union; the Arab Bank; and the Arab-Spanish Bank, in Madrid.) The factory, opened in 1968, now has 4,000 employees.
There is a growing demand for Madagascar Coffee and Sugar, the quality of which is well-accepted in Europe. Coffee accounts for 25–40% of total earnings. Nationalised sugar concerns are being extended (there is a British link). Butter beans, despite bad weather conditions in recent years which have adversely affected yields, have seen great improvement in quality and cannot cope with demand mainly from the UK and Commonwealth countries. Other exports include sisal, raffia, cloves, vanilla and essential oils. The chief markets (including minerals etc) are France roughly 30%, USA 20%, Japan 10%.
Rice, the staple diet of most Malagasy, presents a special ease. For long there was the paradox that Madagascar both exported and imported rice. One reason lay in the fact that main exports consisted of certain kinds of rice regarded overseas as ‘high quality’, while imports were of different types which would make up for local deficiencies in quantity (though not always to the satisfaction of local palates). The situation has not improved. Local production per capita has not kept up with the great increase in population and at base 100 in 1970 was 91 in 1976. A minimum of 200,000 tons a year of imported rice is needed. This not only adversely affects the balance of payments but is also not in line with the declared aim in the Charter that the island should be self-sufficient in food production by the year 2000 – and that such an achievement would be a mark of true independence. New land can be put under cultivation; by 1985, 270,000 more hectares will be needed (for 300,000 tons), with high development costs. But another method is also to be used: a contract has just been signed with the American N-REN firm to set up a chemical fertiliser factory at Tamatave, using by-products from the oil refinery as its raw materials.
To repeat the quotation: ‘The outlook for agricultural produce looks bright’. With progress in production already being seen and overseas aid increasing (within the limits of official policy referred to in the last Newsletter) the island can be expected to become a major exporter in future years.
Further notes in the Newsletter may deal with other ‘products’ and especially with British trading links in each direction. For the latter it is significant that M Rarivoson, Minister of the Economy and Commerce, visited the UK at the invitation of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. A Reception was organised at Lancaster House on 26 March 1979, by the Department of Trade and the Central Office of Information. Members of the Society’s Committee were kindly invited.
The varied climate ranging from tropical forest to desert makes possible a wide variety of agricultural products. But with a population of over 8 million in a country of nearly a quarter of a million square miles its potential is not fully realised. A recent estimate is that nearly half that area could be used as arable land, though the word ‘arable’ may cover a fairly wide range of fertility. It might he expected that the new emphasis on decision-making by the local community would have stimulated a wider use of traditional labour-intensive technology for conveying water long distances in channels flanking the hills and an extension perhaps of the hillside terracing seen in Fianarantsoa region. But, however that may be, development programmes have been started to develop the island’s potential – their ‘style’ following the series of ‘current’ patterns over the years. Major help has been given by eg EEC, World Bank, the Eastern bloc. Some plans have achieved much; others (notably in cattle-raising) have been less successful, sometimes meeting local opposition. Among the most successful have been Groundnut and Cotton schemes. Increased production of cotton is being linked with important growth in the cloth industry, partly with a view to production for export. For example, in December a big extension to the SOTEMA factory at Majunga was opened. (The finance came from an interesting variety of sources: the Malagasy Bank for Industry; Seditex Engineering and DEG of Germany; two sources in Switzerland; the Mediterranean Bank Union; the Arab Bank; and the Arab-Spanish Bank, in Madrid.) The factory, opened in 1968, now has 4,000 employees.
There is a growing demand for Madagascar Coffee and Sugar, the quality of which is well-accepted in Europe. Coffee accounts for 25–40% of total earnings. Nationalised sugar concerns are being extended (there is a British link). Butter beans, despite bad weather conditions in recent years which have adversely affected yields, have seen great improvement in quality and cannot cope with demand mainly from the UK and Commonwealth countries. Other exports include sisal, raffia, cloves, vanilla and essential oils. The chief markets (including minerals etc) are France roughly 30%, USA 20%, Japan 10%.
Rice, the staple diet of most Malagasy, presents a special ease. For long there was the paradox that Madagascar both exported and imported rice. One reason lay in the fact that main exports consisted of certain kinds of rice regarded overseas as ‘high quality’, while imports were of different types which would make up for local deficiencies in quantity (though not always to the satisfaction of local palates). The situation has not improved. Local production per capita has not kept up with the great increase in population and at base 100 in 1970 was 91 in 1976. A minimum of 200,000 tons a year of imported rice is needed. This not only adversely affects the balance of payments but is also not in line with the declared aim in the Charter that the island should be self-sufficient in food production by the year 2000 – and that such an achievement would be a mark of true independence. New land can be put under cultivation; by 1985, 270,000 more hectares will be needed (for 300,000 tons), with high development costs. But another method is also to be used: a contract has just been signed with the American N-REN firm to set up a chemical fertiliser factory at Tamatave, using by-products from the oil refinery as its raw materials.
To repeat the quotation: ‘The outlook for agricultural produce looks bright’. With progress in production already being seen and overseas aid increasing (within the limits of official policy referred to in the last Newsletter) the island can be expected to become a major exporter in future years.
Further notes in the Newsletter may deal with other ‘products’ and especially with British trading links in each direction. For the latter it is significant that M Rarivoson, Minister of the Economy and Commerce, visited the UK at the invitation of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. A Reception was organised at Lancaster House on 26 March 1979, by the Department of Trade and the Central Office of Information. Members of the Society’s Committee were kindly invited.