20 PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



z©ns of this country to take their place as c(imi)etent workers in 

 these industries. 



The report oi the Boer delegates, sent on a tour twelve years 

 ago, said: " The only thino- needed is energy, ])atient and i)ersis- 

 tent. Other colonies have heen visited by drought and famine, 

 frosts and hailstorms, l!Ut they have in a large measure conquered 

 or controlled these difficulties by the resolute will of the people. 

 encouraged by a wise, far-seeing Government. We look forward 

 confidently to the day when we shall not only produce sufficient 

 to support the whole of South Africa, but also take a proud 

 position in the markets of the world." 



To a limited extent these hopes are beginning to be realised. 

 A close study of the latest Customs returns shew that South 

 Africa is ])assing through the importing to the exporting stage, 

 though they also shew that much is now imported which could, 

 without much difficulty, be produced in South Africa. It must 

 not l)e forgotten, however, that the war has had a wonderful 

 effect in stimulating the agricultural and i)astoral interests of this 

 country, by ])roviding iJroLection which no tariff wall cotild e\er 

 give, via., the prohibition of imports from oversea, and difficul- 

 ties connected with shipping, involving increased freight and in- 

 surance charges. But while we welcome earnest and sustained 

 efforts on the i>art of the agricultural and pastoral community to 

 make South .\frica more self-reliant as regards its food supplies, 

 there is at the moment the much higher and patriotic motive, of 

 assisting the Mother Country in consort with the other self- 

 governing Dominions, in the great struggle, by reducing the 

 demand on her raw materials, manufactures and foodstuffs, 

 while straining every effort to increase oitr exi^ortsto her. It is 

 the duty of every producer to realise his individual res|x>nsibility 

 in this matter. 



Never has Soiuh Africa had such an ojiportunitx' as the 

 present, when the extraordinary increase in the consumption of 

 the essentials of life in FAiroi)e is accompanied by a decrease in 

 production. And it must be remembered that the demand for 

 such will not cease when peace is declared, since the world will 

 be faced with a shortage for years, so that a stimulation of effort 

 now, when such abnormal protection to agricultural products 

 exists, will give an impetus to agricultttre in this country, which 

 Avill be permanently felt. a])art from the building up of a large 

 export trade. 



It is fashionable to decry the farmer for want of enterprise, 

 but critics should remember that farming in South Africa is to 

 a great extent a speculative venture. No one should complain 

 of any encouragement given by the (Government to agriculture, 

 for agricultm-e must become and must remain the staple industry 

 in this country. Fortunately. .South Africa does possess many 

 progressive farmers, and there are many indications of an im- 

 proving outlook. The great improvements which have taken 

 l)lace in stock and in agricultural produce have been clearly 



