524 MAIZE 



This rate was to include delivery to vessels, and other services, 

 and was to come into operation on i January, 1908. Negotia- 

 tions were later completed with the Natal Government Railway 

 Administration by which the same rates were made to apply 

 over its lines. The special railway rate then worked out at 

 hd. per ton (of 2,000 lbs.) per mile, with a maximum of 10s. per 

 ton, and was made to apply to all stations within 506 miles 

 of the port. 



At the same time arrangements were made by the Central 

 South African Railway Administration for through booking 

 and sales under Government auspices. 



In Rhodesia a rate of \d. per ton per mile is in force ; 

 there is a flat rate of Is. per bag to Beira, for export. 



501. Government Control of Export. — The several Govern- 

 ments of the four Colonies which are now united in the Union 

 of South Africa, agreed upon the policy of keeping the control 

 of the export trade in their own hands, to avoid the experience 

 of previous years and a repetition of the old charge of mala 



fides which had been laid to the account of the public of South 

 Africa. Officials were appointed at the ports by the several 

 Departments of Agriculture to inspect the grain and grade it 

 according to an accepted standard, to deal generally with the 

 traffic in such a way as to ensure the confidence of the oversea 

 buyer, and to prevent those who had not the interest of South 

 Africa at heart from gaining any temporary benefit at the ex- 

 pense of the country's good name. The code of regulations 

 drawn up also provided that the grain must be properly dry 

 before being railed for export, that it must be packed in new 

 2 \ lb. bags, and must weigh 203 lbs. gross {Hoy, 1). 



502. Effect of Good Prices in Stimulating Trade. — Fortun- 

 ately for South Africa, local prices were at the time well 

 in favour of the South African exporter. Some Natal 

 farmers between Durban and Maritzburg obtained 10s. per 

 muid f.o.r., their station, for large white Hickory King. During 

 the season, local prices ranged between 7s. and 10s. on the 

 Natal coast and in the Midlands, and between 5s. 6d. and 

 8s. 6d. in the northern districts of Natal, the Orange River 

 Colony, and the Transvaal, according to distance, quality, and 

 market. As much as 36s. per quarter (15s. per muid) was 

 realized on the London market. 



