COMMERCE IN MAIZE GRAIN 531 



At the close of the season of 1907 it was found that the chap. 

 Transvaal and Orange River Colony had been the largest x 

 contributors to the oversea trade (Cotts, 1). 



506. Some Difficulties Encountered. — In the earliest stages 

 of the industry the grain received at the coast was often in a 

 condition quite unfit for export: "the bags used were mostly 

 old, patched with calico, badly sewn, or even ' perished,' while 

 the grain itself was unscreened, mixed, sometimes wet, and of 

 varying weights ". This seemed likely to nip the industry in 

 the bud by giving the product a bad name, and it entailed 

 much re-bagging, re-screening, re-weighing, and consequent 

 loss in weight. 



The difficulties experienced clue to grain arriving in a con- 

 dition unsuitable for shipment, soon showed the necessity for 

 regulating the trade, if it was to be conducted under Govern- 

 ment auspices. When the inland Colonies became contributors 

 the several railway authorities and merchants concerned met in 

 consultation, to recommend to their respective Governments 

 uniform regulations. These were amended in conference from 

 year to year as experience showed it to be necessary. Con- 

 ferences were held under official auspices at : — 



Pretoria, 1908, 7 and 8 January (If 508). 

 Durban, 1909, 6 to 10 September. 

 Bloemfontein, 1910, 18 and 19 January (II 510). 



At the last named conference, a committee to be called the 

 "Annual Maize Committee" was organized to carry on the 

 work, this committee to consist of "one representative from 

 each Province to be nominated by the Associated Chambers 

 of Commerce ; one member of the Agricultural Department of 

 each Province to be nominated by the respective Province ; and 

 one member representing each Province to be nominated by 

 the South African Agricultural Union". The committee met 

 in Durban on 11 May, 1910, and again in Bloemfontein on 

 1 1 July the same year, and has held subsequent meetings 

 annually. 



Owing to difficulties experienced by farmers in obtaining 

 suitable bags of uniform weight and quality, the Railway Ad- 

 ministrations undertook, as a temporary measure, to furnish bags 

 on application ; when, however, local firms stocked adequate 



34* 



