SoS MAIZE 



CHAP, for maize and the demand is steadily increasing. Owing to 

 XIL the increase in population in other producing countries of the 

 world, the tendency is for them to export less and less ; and 

 the climatic conditions seem to preclude any very great in- 

 crease in area available for maize production in those countries. 

 With an increasing demand for maize and a tendency for the 

 supply to diminish rather than to increase, there is a golden 

 opportunity for South Africa to step into the market already 

 made for her. This market is practically limitless and will 

 take all that she can produce. 



South African maize, when shipped in a thoroughly dry 

 condition (to ensure which it is desirable not to export before 

 i July), sells readily and commands good prices on the 

 European markets. Owing to its relatively dry condition 

 it is in good demand, but the great difficulty of the oversea 

 merchant is to find enough of it to meet this demand. 

 There is a danger that unless European consignees can de- 

 pend upon steady and regular supplies, South African trade 

 will not be permanently established. 



It is therefore to the advantage of the South African 

 farming community, as a whole, to increase the output and 

 establish a permanent market. It has been demonstrated by 

 actual experience that South Africa can produce maize at a 

 cost that permits of profitable oversea export. 



483. European Consumption. — -The United Kingdom is the 

 largest and best single oversea market for maize. It absorbs 

 during the year something like 30,000,000 (thirty million) 

 muids of maize, or nearly as much as the whole of continental 

 Europe, which, at an average value of 10s. per muid or £5 per 

 ton of 2,000 lbs., represents £15,000,000 (fifteen million 

 pounds). Why should not the South African farmer earn a 

 fair share of this amount and so enrich both himself and his 

 country? 



If South Africa can capture but a fifth of this trade it will 

 mean about £2,500,000 after allowing for freight and other 

 charges, and such a sum would obviously be a valuable help 

 to the country. But she can do so only by putting on the 

 market an article which is either better than, or cheaper than, 

 that supplied by other competing countries, or at a time when 

 they are unable to compete. Otherwise she must rely on 



