THE COST OF THE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 110, 6 November 1899, Page 4

THE COST OF THE WAR.

The cost of the war in South Africa cannot be measured by the amount voted by the British Parliament. Her Majesty's Government secured a grant of ten millions sterling, f and it is possible that if the war is speedily ended, as seems likely by the number of British and colonial troops that are now on the water, the actual cost may not come within two, or perhaps three, millions ' of the amount voted, while on the other hand, if hostilities are prolonged for several months, the cost may very easily run to twelve millions and more. The cost to the South African Republic and the Orange Free State will not be n-earlv so great as that incurred by Great Britain, but whatever the sum is it is bound to tax the resources of the two countries. But the cost of moving troops in the field, and the cost 'of shot and shell, are not the only costs that) are involved in this war. The Transvaal is the greatest gold producing country in the world, and at ICimberley we have the largest and most important diamond mine in the world, and the output from these mines has recently averaged from £2,000,000 to £2,500,000 a moiun. The stress of war has curtailed this output, and there is the possibility that snch aamnge may be done to the mines, particularly those of the Wilwatersrand, as to render the work of restoration extremely costly, if not impracticable. The stoppage of all work at ohe mines is a double loss — loss to the, owners atid loss to the workpeople Then we have to take into the loss of property. Dundee, Glencoe, Newcastle, Pomeroy, and several other towns and hamlets in Natal have been occupied by the Boers, and there can be no doubt that buildings and other property in these places have been damaged and destroyed, the loss on which will have to be made good to the owners after the war. In this category must also be placed the railways and telegraph lines destroyed and likely to be destroyed before the war is brought to a close. But perhaps the- most serious aspect of the war is the suspension of the ordinary duties of the bulk of the local population. The seasons in South Africa are very much the same as they are in these colonies, which means that at the present time the crops are coming on, the sheep are ready for the shearers, and the farmer's busy time is approaching. With the war in 'progress farming operations must be suspended to a very large extent, entailing a heavy loss to those interested in agricultural and pastoral industries in South Africa. This enforced neglect will not only mean an immediate loss, but until the next harvest South Africa must depend upon the outside world for its supplies. Taken altogether the war will be a very costly affair, but there is consolation in the fact that when peace

is restored and British paramountcy in South Africa definitely settled, recovery will be quick and the prosperity of South Africa more permanent and enduring.