DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA 3 



produced viz. about fifteen million pounds during 

 the months when dairying is possible makes one 

 expect to see the Union exporting butter in quan- 

 tity within the next five years. The quality, too, 

 is such that our best brands are much superior to 

 anything yet imported into this country, and we 

 shall yet see it on the London markets second, only 

 in quality and price to the best Danish article. 



On reading the " Black List" of imports into 

 South Africa it may be a matter of surprise to notice 

 how much butter is brought into the country from 

 outside sources, but that surprise is quite uncalled 

 for when we realise that these imports of Australian 

 butter, chiefly through the port of Cape Town, are 

 brought here mostly for speculative purposes. 

 Speaking with reference to pre-war prices, butter 

 could be landed in Cape Town at is. i\d. per Ib. 

 approximately, while the same butter sells at any- 

 thing from is. yd. to is. ioct. t so that the consumer 

 receives not only an inferior article, but is gulled 

 into satisfaction by the magic of the word " Im- 

 ported," which is only a false value. " Protection" 

 is needed for the dairy industry, and import duties 

 placed on all imported butter and tinned milk would 

 materially encourage the farmer to produce ; for if 

 so much profit could not be made on imported 

 articles the merchant would exploit more of colonial 

 produce, to the benefit of the farmer. True, it is 

 said that the public gets what it demands, but this 



