UNIQUE MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14169, 18 September 1906, Page 3

UNIQUE MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

The Town Council of Johannesburg has just issued an-interesting memorandum, of some thirty printed pages, including many tabular returns. Nominally, they are statistics for the month! of April, but they include a remarkably interesting review of municipal progress since the civic franchise “ was accorded to all white Britishers (male and female) of- twenty-one yeans of age and upwards who own ratable property of an assessed value of £IOO ot occupy ratable property of the assessed valua of £3OO, or premises of the gross annual value of £24.” There are 28,333 voters on the roll, of whom 1550 are females. The population within the municipal area (which covers about 813 square miles) is put at, over 155,642, of which 83,363 are whites—“three females to every five males.” The ratable value totals £48,878,071. In area, Johannesburg is to the next two largest cities in South Africa (Capo Town and Durban) as 81J to 9 1-3 and _lO 4-5 square miles respectively; and in the whit© population, in round thousands, as 83 to 44 and 31 respectively; while in round millions the ratable values axe respectively 43, 17 and 10. The deathrate is 12.2 per 1000. Apart from goldmining, “the only other industries of any importance carried on in the municipal area are brewing, printing and bookbinding, timber working, . flour milling and baking, iron and ’ ’ bras* founding, tobacco manufacturing, and brick and the making.” The provision of water, gas and electricity is in the hands of the Town Council. The police force is controlled by the Government, and the establishment consists of 1 S deputy-commissioner,. 2 assistant-coup mission ers, 2 inspectors, 2 superintendents (foot), 1 superintendent (mounted), 74 sergeants (foot)', 15 sergeants ’ (mounted), 660 constables (foot), 73 troopers (mounted), and 86 native police. An interesting object lesson is the section of this memorandum headed “Poor Relief.” “The only duty in connection with poor relief imposed upon the municipality is that of providing for the burial of destitute persona dying within the Emits of the ’municipality. The Town Council, however, contribute £I2OO per annum towards the home maintained by the Rand Aid Association, £3OO per annum towards the Men’s Night Shelter, the Menjs., Social Farm and the Rescue Home for Women maintained by the Salvation Army; £3OO per annum to the Johannesburg branch of Nazareth House, and a number of other like sums to other charities.” _ • There are nearly 750 miles of streets. A water-borne sewerage scheme has been decided on, and it Is expected that the south-western portion of the town will be sewered by the end of 1906. The last rata levied was only Ijd in the £ for the halfyear (July 1 to December 31, 1905). A table of rates of wages, hours of labour, and state of trades is given. Tims bakers receive 90s per week for 60 hours, trade described as “fair”; ironfounders 120 b per week for 51 hours, also “ fair ” ; lino operators 140 s per week of 45 hours, “ fair.” But the other trades, including bricklayers (22a 6d per day, 48 hours weekly), coopers (19s 2d, per day, ditto) are either “bad,” “quiet,” “deplorable” or “very bad.” Another instructive table is that of prices of produce sold on the morning market. New-laid eggs are 5s 6d to 7s 6d a dozen I a fair index as to the high cost of living.