602 MAIZE 



CHAP, out empty, and naturally would require such a rate of freight 

 as would pay them for the journey outward as well as for the 

 return with a full cargo {Price, 2). 



It is sometimes argued against bulk shipment that the 

 vessels engaged in the South African trade are not equipped 

 for this purpose, and that until the trade assumes far larger pro- 

 portions than at present, the steamship companies would hardly 

 be warranted in making the necessary changes. The writer is 

 informed by a reliable shipping authority that although no 

 " whaleback " steamers, such as are used in the American 

 trade, are at present available for the South African trade, the. 

 vessels at present engaged could carry bulk grain by using a 

 small proportion of bagged grain for trimming ; thus with a 

 6,000-ton bulk cargo, 16,000 bags would be sufficient for 

 securing purposes. Another correspondent, familiar with 

 shipping conditions, writes : " The danger of shifting cargo 

 is much more imaginary than real ; in my opinion no danger 

 exists if the reasonable and acknowledged precautions are 

 taken ". 



557. Tonnage. — It is imperative that the best possible 

 shipping facilities should be available to exporters, if the South 

 African export trade is to be firmly established. Shipping 

 arrangements should provide for tonnage being available to all 

 United Kingdom and continental markets, as and when re- 

 quired, subject to reasonable notice being given by the Govern- 

 ment Department in charge of the shipping arrangements. 

 The need of direct freight to British ports in addition to Lon- 

 don and Southampton is very apparent ; Liverpool, Glasgow, 

 Bristol, Hull, Leith, Belfast, and other great centres would 

 take South African maize readily enough, but that there is no 

 direct service, and the grain dealers at these ports are not 

 accustomed to handling small parcels through other ports. A 

 Liverpool merchant remarked to the writer, that " it borders on 

 the ridiculous that there should be no direct freight from South 

 Africa to Liverpool, the premier maize port in the United King- 

 dom ". When there is enough through freight to warrant it, the 

 shipping interests will lose no time in taking advantage of it, and 

 as the South African maize export expands it will necessarily 

 require freight for these ports. Such an arrangement would 

 also enable South Africa to ship other produce, particularly 



