SOUTH AFRICA

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1612, 21 January 1903, Page 33

SOUTH AFRICA

CAPETOWN January 19. The guests at a banquet to Mr Chamberlain at Johannesburg included Lord Milner and General Botha. The May Or presided. Mr Chamberlain received the greatest ovation given to anyone in the history of Johannesburg. His speech occupied an hour and a half in delivery. Mr Chamberlain announced that, with a view of ensuring a practical and immediate result, and fixing a sum instead of ear-marking and finite surpluses, ho had secured authorisation to accept a scheme based for the first part wholly in favour of the Transvaal. The Imperial Government, he said, would guarantee an investment loan of thirty-five millions on the security of the assets of the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony. The loan would be issued the moment it was sanctioned, to pay exiting debts and to buy and construct railways and promote land settlement.

A war debt loan of thirty millions would be nlaced at the earliest opportunity after the other loan on the security of the Transvaal. Financiers, Mr Chamberlain stated, bad subscribed ten millions without commission or preferential security as regards the remainder, thus assuring the success of the loan in London. This, said Mr Chamberlain, would place no undue burden on the Transvaal, the Motherland accepting an adequate and liberal share. Orange River Colony, he added, would not to contribute unless her resources hereafter warranted it. In his speech at the banquet at Johannesburg. Mr Chamberlain warmly denied agreeing to the proposal to introduce Chinese and Persian labourers to the Transvaal. There was he said, sufficient labour available in South Africa if the Kaffirs could be forced to work.

Commenting on Ibe increase in white labour, he said that whereas prior to the war there was one white to every nine Kaffirs the proportion now was one to five. If the proportion were increased, it would make South Africa a white man’s country.

Proceeding. Mr Chamberlain said it was now essential to develop the. present supply and increase the efficiency of white labour. It was only hereafter that they could consider drastic measures.

Lord Milner announced that prior to tibe appointment of a Royal Commission it was intended to call an Conference to consider the native administration and legislation.

Replying at the Johannesburg banquet to the recent statement by Mr James B. Robinson (chairman of Robinson’s Bank), that it would be impossible for Downing street to wholly rule any portion of South Africa, Mr Chamberlain was wildly applauded when he declared that neither Boer nor Briton wished to substitute Mark Lane for Downing street. TTpi added: “Self-government will he granted when the States’ security and the permanence of existing order are secured.”

The Rand companies contemplate an expenditure of fifty and a half millions on deep levels and other projects. They are discussing the possibility of mining to a depth of 12,000 ft. Ther Engineer of the Chamber of Mines at Johannesburg informed Mr CHtunberlain that the earnings of 12.000 white men engaged in the mines averaged £353 a year, representing an increase in the cost of production of 2s lOd per ton. If white labour were adopted exclusively it would lfiean an increase of 10s per ton, rendering half the mines .unprofitable.