ExpoET OF South African Produce. 453 



EXPORT OF SOUTH AFRICAN PRODUCE. 



Present Freight Rates. 



Ix the murketiag' of Suutli Airicuii produce overseas in coiupetitiou 

 with the produce of other countries, the cost of phicing' our gxxxls on 

 tliose- markets is a matter, of course, for careful consideration, and 

 in this respect the cliief item of expense is that incurred in the long 

 voyage. As is well known, freight rates are not stable, indeed they 

 are subject at times to great fluctuations, and the soaring charges for 

 freight during the years of Ihe war will be fresh in the memory of all. 

 Witli a return to something ai)i)roaching nornuil conditions and a 

 freer supply of freightage, the question of freight rates, which enters 

 so largely into the calculations of the producer in the Union, is 

 becoming a mor;- stable one, and there has recently been a very 

 appreciable reduction in these charges. * 



It must be remembered, however, that freightage is affected, like 

 other commercial enterprise, by competition, and circumstances may 

 arise which will so alter the position as to iiecessitate alterations in 

 the rates without notice. It is a matter, therefore, which must 

 closely be followed by all those concerned in this country — and it is 

 necessary, for freight plays a most important part in the develop- 

 ment of South Africa through the expansion of our oversea markets. 



The principal carriers of South African produce are known as the 

 " South xVfrican Steamship Lines," Avhich embrace the following 

 steamship companies, Aaz., the llnion-Castle Steamship Co., Ltd., 

 Messrs. BuUard, King & Co., Ellerman-Bucknall Line, Clan Line 

 Steamers, Ltd., EUerman-Harrison Line, Harrison-Bennie Line. 

 There are certain other steamship lines which do not belong to this 

 combination, and the rate at which they will undertake to carry our 

 cargo is a factor which will always need to be considered, but in 

 view of their importance, it seems that the rates charged by the 

 South African Steamship Lines will form the basis of those ruling 

 generally for South African produce. 



We are indebted to the Union-Castle Steamship Company for 

 kindly furnishing us M'itli the rates now ruling for freight, on the 

 commodities shown below, from Union ports to the United Kingdom 

 and Continent, carried for direct discharge only by the steamship 

 lines enumerated above (known also as the " Conference Lines "), 

 and publish them for the information of farmers following the trend 

 of oversea prices for their produce. 



It should be understood that in some cases the class of commodity' 

 exported is such tluit it will be to the benefit of the shipping company 



