DOMINIONS COMMISSION

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15399, 16 July 1914, Page 7

DOMINIONS COMMISSION

SOUTH AFRICAN REPORT. MAILS TO AUSTRALASIA. CHEAPER CABLES URGED. Press Association—By Tel.—Copyright. Received 11.30 p.m., July 15th. LONDON, July 'ls. The Dominions Commission South African report suggests amalgamation of Rand mines into a single trust. The only disadvantage , be. the creation of an interest so powerful as* to be a menace to government authority. The present system of recruiting black labour is expensive and inefficient and while labpur is discontented, unstable and often' unsuitable. There should be one authority over the natives.

Regai-ding agriculture the most pressing need is scientific water conservation. The report advocates extensivei dairy farming, opening up the country for settlers, and inducing immigration. It states that farmers 1 need £IOOO or £2OOO to stars with. In South Africa there is little co-operation among daily farmers compared with. Australia and New Zealand, but the co-operative movement is making strides.

The Commission recalls its- remarks in the second interim report upon the general advantages of tho Cape route for Australian and New. Zealand mails. It is not sufficiently realised that the route between Britain and Adelaide via the Cape is only 600 knots longer than via Gibraltar and Suez. It is a matter for surprise that no serious effort has been made to organise ,' a joint mail service for Africa and Australia. Before further contracts are completed there should be consultations between the British and Dominions' Governments.

The Commissioners strongly urge ties not to rest until week-end. cables of ten or twelve words can be transmitted throughout the Dominions for an inclusive charge of ss, as such messages would afford the people of the Empire a means of maintaining the family and national relations to which they are legitimately.-entitled. The Commissioners strongly commend that week-end Press messages might well be a penny a word up to 800, and protest against the high .Press cable rates between South Africa arid other Dominions.