ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 2 August 1913, Page 10

ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA.

NE., ,---ALANDERS AND AUSTRALIANS. Mr E. J. Mackrell, who is engaged in the dairying industry in the Orange Free State, is at present on a visit to his native country (Australia) and New Zealand, seeing things connected with his particular line of business. He found time to include Oamaru, where he has a brother, in his itinerary, and had some interesting remarks to make to an Oamaru Mail reporter. Mr Mackrell says that there are about 20,000 Australians and New Zealanders in South Africa, all of whom are "on their feet" and doing well. This is largely due to the fact that the Antipodean can adopt himself to the free-and-easy .conditions peculiar to the Dutch people. It matters little in what pursuit the "Australian" may engage, he has but one place on the ladder of success, and that is on the top rung. Many are farmers, others are engaged in mining, and not a few hold responsible Government positions, but whatever the calling they are the exemplars—those whose methods of handicraft and husbandry are worthy of emulation and much more remunerative -than are the somewhat primitive methods of the countrymen. And that the ideas of the "Australian" may be as widely disseminated as possible and the standard of the country generally raised, it is a common thing to place him in a position of the greatest responsibility. Take for instance, the position of wool expert in the Transvaal, Orange Free State, and in Cape Colony. In «ach the position is held by an "Australian." Three-parts of the butter manufactured in South Africa is manufactured by "Australians." South Africa is a wonderful country, and practically timberless. The Orange Free State,, which is generally regarded as the best of the States for agricultural purposes, averages about 5000 feet above the sea level, but, although the altitude is high, the temperature is wonderfully even, never running to extremes, a remark which applies also to the Transvaal. Apart from" the minerals *such as gold and diamonds) for which Johannesburg and Kjmberley are fam-

ous, the land is purely agricultural, although not whaii may be termed firstclass farming land, its value to-day is about £2 ius per acre; foar years ago it was considered not worth more than £1 per acre. The mediocrity of the soil is compensated for by the extent of the allotments, which are in the majority of cases of sufficient area to suit requirements, and as a result the farmers are ail well-to-do. The products of the country are principally maize (or, as it is called in tne country, mealie), sheep, cattle, and dairying. The three firstnamed industries are further advanced than is dairying, the latter being in swaddling clothes. Still, it is considered that, at the present rate of progress with the help of modernised methods, the dairying industry will soon be on a. level with the others as regards its importance. Maize is the chiet export commodity, and is highly remunerative especially at a market value of 8s per bag, which is not unusual. The sheep industry is likewise highly remunerative and, with the attention that is being paid to breeding, it bids fair to become a potent factor in the development of the country. Although the wool produced may not equal the finer quality of the New Zealand and Australian product, it realises good prices, especially since the farmers have awakened to the excellent results derivable from classing and grading. The custom previously was to bundle the wool into bales and send it away. The popular breed is the merino, of which there is a continuous stream of the finest strains from New Zealand, Tasmania, and Australia. Mr Mackrell has already indicated the rapidity with which the dairying industry is bounding along, and he considers it will not be long before it is one of th eleading industries. At present butter is not an exportable commodity, because not more than is require- for local consumption is produced. The yearly average output of the factories approximates 3500 tons. Cheese is made only in small quantities , owing to the distances that separate I the farms and the expense entailed in 1 collecting the milk. Cream used in the manufacture of butter is all home separated, and although the article lacks the nuttiness of that of New Zealand and Australia, it is generally fine, and considerable improvement is anticipated in this regard as the industry advances. ■ The popular dairy cow is the Frieslander, or, as it is known in New ZeaI land, the Holstein. These cows are pro- ' lific milkers, although the tests do not give a high cream percentage. For t the improvement of the breed there is I a continuous stream of the best strains from America and Holland. In the matter of the importation of cattle the people of the South African Union have a decided advantage over others, foi l when the last mail contract was enterj eel into with the Royal Mail Packet Steamship Company a condition was imposed that pedigree stock were to be carried freo to South Africa from Great | Britain. Farmars are taking every ad- ' vantage- of this stipulation, and while ' it has been in operation for a short time only, there is already a decided increase in the number of front-rank animals in South Africa. / i Ostrich breeding is another factor that begets wealth for the South African farmer; indeed it is a phase of agricultural development of which he ma. be said to possess a monopoly. By exercising care in selection flock birds can I be produced that are worth from £7C to ..jOO, and the prices for the feathera .otained from these birds and their progeny far exceed those obtained in any other part of the world. In Cape Colony especially is ostrich rearing a great industry. Regarding the politics of the country it is well, known tnat the four provinces recently joined hands under the name of the Union Government of South Africa, and this being so many laws will have to be brought into line and the agricultural wealth of the country developed on sound principles. Amongsc other great problems the native (Kaffir) question is one of the most difficult of solution. A great deal has been heard of late about the racial feeling between the English and Dutch people. This "s really a flash in the pan, and will die out as quickly as it flared up, as racialism is not so real as people are led to believe, both sections of the community wishing to have political peace. The present Botha Government holds moderate views, and has done a great deal to fuse the two peoples, and whether *"t continues in office'or not the Government that succeeds it must hold moderate views also. If an election is forced no doubt the moderates of both sides will come together with a strong following and break down the feeling that now exists against Immigration, and once a good flow of immigration starts the country will develop by leaps and bounds, as the possibilities of the agricultural resources of the country can hardly be exaggerated, i Mr Mackrell knows all the Boer leaders —General Botha, ex-President Stein, General de Wet, General de la Rey, General Smuts, and many more whoso names were familiar during the currency of the late war. All are now living peaceably side by side with the Eng- | lish, with whom they are on popular i terms, as indeed they are with all ' classes.