SOUTH AFRICA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 474, 5 April 1909, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PORTUGUESE RAILWAY AND PORT. TRADE GUARANTEE—BLACK LABOUR, (IIY TELBGRAFH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYKIGHT,] (Roc, April i, 4.30 p.m.) • Pretoria, April 3. An agreement between tho Transvaal and tho Portuguese territory of Mozambique has been signed after consultation with tho other South African States. Undor tho agreomont, tho Portugucso will continuo to facilitate the recruiting in Porttv gueso territory of black labour for the mines. There will bo a joint administration of tho railways and tho port of Delagoa Bay. That port is guaranteed 50 per cent, of tho Transvaal's overseas traffic. The making of alterations in tho existing railway rates has been entrusted to tho Central South African Railways. UNIFICATION. (Roc. April 4, 4.30 p.m.) Capo Town, April 3. Both Houses of tho Orange River Colony Parliament have accepted the draft cowstitution for the unification of tho South African States. . NATURAL ADVANTAGES OF DELAGOA BAY. ~D o' «g°a Bay is tho chief port of entry for the Transvaal to-day, Sixty per cent, of tho traffic for tho Witwatersrand and Pretoria, which absorb tho great bulk of tho whole oversea trade of the Transvaal, travels via Delagoa Bay. Lourenco Marques (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") is only 300 miles from Johannesburg, whereas Durban is 485, and East London and Tort Elizabeth about 700 miles away. Tho entrance to tho port of Louronco Marques, writes the Capo Town correspondent of tho Morning Post," is being enlarged, and the entrance to it dredged to a depth which will admit of the on try ot tho largest vossels which ply to South Africa. Though there are certain countervailing advantages possessed by the British ports, they are not such as can-over deprive Delagoa Bay of a decided advantago in any free competition for the Transvaal traffic Hitherto the modus vivendi, which gives the Portuguese port certain preferences in the mattcr of railway rates in return for tho right to recruit natives in Portuguese territory for tho mines has governed the railway situation. Tho Cape and Natal aver Hint the preference enjoyed by ■ Delagoa Bay is greater thai* that winch she would possess if I>y were allowed to compete with her freely. What Natnl asked for in tho convention is not known, but it was stated her delegates wero prepared to insist on one-third of the traffic. But ns the Cape would also want a share, it may bo premised thai Delagoa Bay having been granted one-half, the remaining portion will be divided between the two maritime States, tho greater proportion perhaps going to Natal, as being nearer Johannesburg.