7o 4 SOUTH AFRICA 



1910 1911 1912 



(ist nine months only) 



Exports .... 54,509,000 57,734.000 46,512,000 



Imports .... 35,123,000 36,423,000 27,460,000 



Compared with 1907 the export figures for 1911 showed an increase of over 10,000,000 

 or 21 %; the imports for the same period increased 10,500,000 or over 40 %. Of the imports 

 in 1911 it was officially estimated that 6,351,000 or 17% were taken by native or coloured 

 consumers, a significant indication of their economic importance to the country. In 1911 

 the United Kingdom supplied 58 % of the imports, those of the British empire as a whole 

 being 64%. Germany and the United States came next as importers. By reason of the 

 preference tariff granted them British goods benefited in 1911, in the Union alone, by 

 538,000, Australian goods by 46,000 and Canadian goods by 16,000. Nearly all the 

 exports (92% in 1911) go to the United Kingdom. The following were in 1911 the chief 

 exports: gold 37,608,000; diamonds 8,282,000; wool 3,900,000; ostrich feathers 1 

 2,253,000; angora and mohair 917,000; hides and skins 1,216,000; coal 1,079,000; 

 copper 615,000. These figures do not, however, represent fully the agricultural develop- 

 ment. The export of maize, bark (for tanning) and of fruit has greatly developed, while much 

 of the increased production in 1911 was consumed locally. The imports of agricultural 

 machinery, 148,000 in 1910, rose to 196,000 in 1911. But the development of industries 

 besides gold and diamond mining is best shown by the value of other goods exported; valued 

 at 9,500,000 in 1908, they were worth 13,300,000 in 1910 and 13,700,000 in 1911. 



The gold output from the Transvaal mines for 1911 was 35,041,000; for the first ten 

 months of 1912 it was 32,242,633. The issued capital at the end of 1911 was 62,325,000, 

 and 8,066,000 represented dividends. The diamond output was, from the Cape Province 

 (including 346,000 from river diggings) 5,506,000, an increase of 298,000 over 1910; the 

 Transvaal diamond output in 1911 (mostly from the Premier mine) was 1,62 8,000. In May 

 1911 alluvial diamonds were discovered at Mooifontein on the Transvaal side of the Vaal 

 in the Bloemhof district, and 17 m. N.W. of the river bank in a great gravel covered area. 

 Alluvial diamonds had never previously been found so far from the river, A mining town 

 of 10,000 inhabitants (half whites) has sprung up and there is every likelihood of the diggings 

 having a iiie ov several years. By the middle of 1912 diamonds worth over 300,000 had been 

 found. Of more importance was the proof afforded in 1912 that there were rich copper fields 

 in the Messina district, northern Transvaal. 



Finance. The following are the figures for the revenue and expenditure of the Union 

 (Rhodesia and the protectorates being dealt with separately below). The financial year ends 

 March 31, and as the Union was established on May 31, 1910, the first financial "year" 

 contained ten months only. It should also be pointed out that the account of the Railways 

 and Harbours Board is not shown in the budget statements, only the contribution from the 

 board to the consolidated fund. Revenue: (1910-11) 14,392,000, (1911-12) 17,336,000, 

 (1912-13 est.) 16,288,000. Expenditure: (1910-11) 13,598,000, (1911-12) 16,638,000, 

 (1912-13 est.) 17,129,000. The actual revenue for April-September 1912 was 8,473,000; 

 the expenditure for the same period 7,629,000. The public debt on March 31, 1911 was 

 114,236,000; the yearly interest 3,876,000. The Union government, to the end of 1912, 

 had contracted no permanent loan; the indebtedness being that incurred previously to Union. 



The following figures for 191 1-12 show the main sources of revenue: Customs 4,508,000; 

 mines (part proprietbry profits, part IO% tax on profits, imposed 1911) 2,305,000, licences, 

 stamp duties, transfers &c. 1,653,000; taxes on natives 1,181,000; contribution from 

 Railways and Harbours fund 1,159,000. In 1910-11 the Board's contribution had been 

 1,520,000; it was reduced in 1912-13 to 500,000, and is intended to cease altogether, 

 profits from railways and harbours being allocated to developing industries, by reduction 

 m rates and fares, and in improving means of communication. Expenditure is practically 

 wholly on the civil service. In 1911-12 the sum of 418,000 was spent on defence. The 

 provincial administrations cost the Union 3,315,000. (No permanent arrangement as to 

 provincial finance had been reached by the close of 1912.) Up to March 1912 the sum of 

 5,889,000 was spent by the Railways and Harbours Board on capital and betterment 

 account; of this 2,400,000 was allocated to building new railways. Reductions in railway 

 rates to the end of 1912 represented a loss in revenue of 1,335,000. In 1911 the Railways 

 Board showed a revenue of 12,163,000 and expenditure 12,056,000; the Harbours Board a 

 revenue of 852,000 and expenditure 729,000. The state owned harbours are Cape Town, 

 Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban and Mossel Bay. 



Communications. The contract for carrying ocean mails by the Union-Castle boats 

 expired in September 1912. Meantime the company's fleet had been purchased by the 

 Elder Dempster Shipping Company which 'on September 9, 1912 concluded a new agreement 

 (to last ten years) with the government, framed to meet the requirements of an act passed 

 in April 191 1 by the Union Parliament forbidding the entry into any contract with any person 

 or company which granted rebates to shippers. This act was aimed at the " shipping ring " 



1 South Africa supplies the world's markets with about 85 % of their requirements of - 

 ostrich feathers. 



