520 THK I'KOCIRESS OF THE NATAL SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



back due to the rava,ues of locusts, the loss being" estimated at 

 8.O0O tons of sugar; but thanks to the methods of destruction 

 adopted, the plag^ue was practically exterminated. 



Prior to this great visitation of locusts, the only record in 

 Natal occured more than 40 years ])reviously, and remained only 

 a short period. Under the circumstances above described, not to 

 mention other discouragements, a check to the industry might 

 not unnaturally have been looked for— on the contrary, it had 

 the effect of stimulating further improved methods. 



The trade amongst the South African States used to be 

 very complicated, as each State had its own import duties and 

 granted different kinds of privileges to different countries. 

 Mczambique sugar, fnr instance, was exempt from duties on 

 import into the Transvaal, whilst Natal sugar was taxed. This 

 remained in force imtil a couple of years after the Boer War. 

 In 1906 a Convention was drawn u]). in which the British South 

 African Colonies guaranteed each other free trade, whilst sugar 

 from abroad was taxed. The industry from this date onward 

 made steady progress, the production mounting from 35,000 

 tons in 1907/8 to 1^2,000 tons in 1914/15. This crop marks an 

 epoch in the history of the industry, the total output reaching 

 for the first time 100.000 tons. The crop in 1915/16 totalled 

 115,000 tons, so that in nine years the output has more than 

 trebled itself. If this increase is maintained, Natal will soon be 

 an exporting country. The industry is likely to flourish. The 

 factories have been and are bein^- well installed, and up-to-date 

 methods are being a|)])lied to cane cultivation, and after the 

 labour problem has been solved, a ftu'ther exj)ansion of the in- 

 dustry may be looked for, as there is land and lalxntr enough, to 

 judge from the present state of aff"airs. 



The history of the industry and its growth, from the ])lant- 

 ing of the first cane l)y Mr. Morewood, on Compensation Flats 

 in 1847, to the existing standard of develo])ment. is a story with 

 the elements of romance. One by one the early pioneers of the 

 industry have dro]>ped out of the running, leaving onlv a few 

 who have followed it from the early l)cginning, through want of 

 ex])crience and cai)ital. The early i)ioneers had many failures, 

 but tlieir pluck and dogged perseverance against man\- odds, of 

 which the |)resent-day ])lantcr has no conception, laid the foun- 

 dation of ihe present flourishing industrv. 



British Association. — I'or the first time since the 

 iSriiish .Association for the Advancement of Science was founded 

 in 1 83 1 its animal meeting will be intermitted. It has been 

 decided to cancel this year's meeting, which was to have been 

 held at Pxiurnemouib in Septciuber. The rea.sons for this step 

 arc niaiiil\ tin- rc^trictit m ot' railway communication and the 

 fact that the buildings in which it was anticipated that the 

 Association would be acconnnodated are being requisitioned for 

 various national pm"|)Oses. 



