Report of the Department oe Agriculture. 



485 



4. E,vport Values. — Based on Customs returns, the following 

 were the average export values of the commodities shown : — 



Commodity. 



1913. 



1914. 



1921. 



Wool. Scoured (per Ib.^ ... 



„ Grease „ 



Mohair „ 



Ostrich Feathers „ 



Hides „ 



Skins, Goats „ 



„ Sheep „ 



Wattle Bark (per ton of 2000 lb.) 

 Sugar ( „ „ ) 



Wines (per gallon) ... 



5. Advisory Board. — The Board, which is identical with the 

 Executive of the South African Agricultural Union, met twice and 

 rendered valuable assistance. The constitution of the Board has 

 been the subject of discussion by other agricultinal bodies, which 

 have made proposals for their own representation on the Board. The 

 matter appears to be still under consideration. 



6. Co-operative Societies Act. — Special legislation to facilitate 

 the registration and work of co-operative societies, which hitherto 

 was in force in the Transvaal and Orange Free State only, was 

 extended to the Cape and Natal Provinces as well. The experience 

 of the last 18 years or so was availed of for enacting legislation 

 wliich embodies the principles that have led to success in other 

 countries as well as in this, while the faults and disabilities in 

 previous legislation were eliminated. Further, the Transvaal and 

 Orange Free State laws made provision only for societies with 

 unlimited liability, while the present Act provides for societies with 

 limited liability as well. A new Land Banl- Act passed during the 

 same Session enables societies with limited liability as well as with 

 unlimited lial)ility to obtain assistance by means of loans from the 

 Land Bank. Societies already in existence not conforming in all 

 respects to the new law, but which have adopted the main principles 

 of co-operation, can be admitted for registration under the new Act. 

 The two Acts mentioned will be a potent means of furthering 

 agricultural co-operation. 



7. A gri cultural Produce Grading Act. — This Act, passed during 

 the last Session of Parliament, introduced a \\q^^ principle from 

 which it is expected that far-reaching results will accrue. Since 

 1914 the grading of export fruit was provided for, and since 1917 the 

 grading of other agricultural products, exclusive of wool, mohair, 

 hides, skins, and ostrich feathers. In the Act of 1922 hides and 

 skins were brought under the 1917 Act, and provision was made for 

 the grading of agricultural products intended for sale in South 

 Africa. The grading of cheese sold in South Africa is already under- 

 taken for and at the request of certain producers. The grading of 

 bacon can be undertaken in terms of this Act, while the grading 

 of certain other products will probably become practicable in 

 course of time. One of the main features of the Act is that 



