SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 4001, 22 January 1903, Page 1

SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

CAPETOWN, Jan. 18. The Rand companies contemplate the expenditure of £50,500,000 on deep levels. , Amongst other projects being discussed is that of the possibility of mining to a depth of 12,000 feet. The Chamber of Mines at Johannesburg has informed Mr Chamberlain that the earnings o, the 12,000 whites engaged in the mines averaged £353 a year representing an in crease in the cost of production of 2s lOd a ton. If white labor is adopted exclusively it will represent an increase of 10s a ton, rendering half the mines unprofitable. Jan. 19. ■ The guests at the Johannesburg banquet included Lord Milner and #gneral Botha. The Mayor presided, r Chamberlain received the greatest ovation of anyone, in the history of Johannesburg. His speech occupied an hour and ahalf in delipery. He announced that he had secured ,an authorisation to accept a scheme based for the first part wholly in the Transvaal favour. Parliament would guarantee the investment of a loan of £35,000,000 on thesecurity of the Transvaal’s and Orangia’s assets. A war debt loan of £30,000,000 would be placed at the earliest opportunity after the other loan, on the security of the Transvaal’s financiers who.had .subscribed an instalment of £10,000,‘OOO without commission or preferential security, as regards the remainder, thus assuring the success of the loan, in London. This would place no un- ; due burden on the Transvaal or the Motherland accepting an adequate and liberal share.

Mr Cflam'b'erlain warmly denied agreeing to a proposal to introduce Chinese and Persians. Sufficient labour was available in South Africa if the Kaffirs could be forced to work Commenting on the increase of white labour, Mr ..Chamberlain said that whereas prior to the war there was one white to eivery nine Kaffirs, nowr the proportion was one to live. If the proportion increases it would make it <a white ma/n's country.. It was now essential to develope the present, sup-ply and increase the efficiency of white labour only, and hereafter to consider drastic measures; . Mr Chamberlain, in replying to Mr J. B. Robins en's recent statement that it was wholly impossible for Downing Street to wholly rule any protion of :South Africa, was wildly applauded when he declared that neither Boer nor Briton wished to substitute Mark Lane for Downing street Mr Chamberlain added that, self-gov-ernment would be granted when the State's security and permanence of existing order were secured.