COMMERCE IN MAIZE GRAIN 577 



the shipping expense of possibly 4<d. per ton, equalling .£100. chap. 

 Also, in a 6,000-ton bulk cargo 16,000 bags would be sufficient XI1 - 

 for securing purposes, giving a saving of 50,000 bags which 

 would in the case of bag cargoes be at least 3d. per bag lost to 

 South Africa each voyage, whereas with bulk cargoes the same 

 bags could be used over and over again. This item of loss 

 could be safely stated at .£625, giving a total of £725 as South 

 Africa's direct gain or a total gain of £1,225 to work on for 

 a cargo of 6,000 tons; and on that basis 100,000 tons shipped 

 in bulk would mean that we were in a better position by 

 £20,000, equalling 4s. per ton, to meet competition, etc." 



As a result of his investigations in Europe and America, in 

 191 1, Sir Thomas Price (2) found some diversity of opinion as 

 to the aggregate saving by shipping in bulk, but he was inclined 

 to accept the opinion of Hamburg merchants that it might be 

 put at 5s. per ton, with no less price, but the possibility of ob- 

 taining a higher price, for the grain ; this 5s. per ton would 

 obviously go into the pockets of the producer of the grain. 

 There can be no doubt, he adds, as to the greater expedition in 

 handling, and that there would be a saving of at least half the 

 cost of the new bag which is now used ; and, if the worst comes 

 to the worst in the matter of the price paid for exporting the 

 grain, i.e. if South Africa had to pay more than 1 is. 6d. per ton 

 (which it should not have to do), this saving in the price of the 

 bags, which should amount to at least 2s, 1 id. per ton, and 

 probably 3s. 4c!. per ton, would be valuable. 



535. Accumulation and Storage at Inland Centres. — The 

 present method of handling grain in South Africa is not 

 entirely satisfactory. Maize is indiscriminately forwarded by 

 the farmer or storekeeper direct to the coast, whenever he so in- 

 clines, irrespective of shipping facilities. There it is ware- 

 housed to await arrival of the steamer ; as there are 110 elevators, 

 the bags of grain are stored in flat sheds, causing serious con- 

 gestion of wharf accommodation. It is highly desirable that 

 transit grain silos or warehouses should be erected at large 

 inland collecting centres, as is done in Australia and the United 

 States ; then, when a sale was effected, particulars of the steamer 

 and date of arrival at the port could be communicated to the 

 railway administration, which could, if necessary, run special 

 fast maize trains from the elevators direct to the port and 



37 



