SOUTH AFRICAN MAILS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1481, 2 July 1912, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN MAILS.

GENERAL BOTHA'S TTOPfi. By Tclcgraim-Pras Aesociation-IfopyriElit Capo Town, June 30. Tho Prime. Minister, General Botha, speaking" at lUversdale,' paid a tribute (o Kir Owen Philipps, head of tho Royal Mail line, and. said ho still hoped for n settlement of the mail contract before September. It was impossible to «llowGovcrnment freights to bo tied for to long a period. . .

A SCARCITY OF TENDERERS. Tho "Morning Post" was assured some months mo that it was tho unflinching determination of the South African Government to proceed in tho moil negotiations in accordance with tlie provisions ol tho Postal Act, which prohibits tho State from entering into any new contract lor tho carriage of mails with any shipowners who aro members of a "combine" (o maintain high freights- or who grant rebates to the detriment of trade. 'I he Postmaster-General-had announced that tho legislation nlluded to "will only bo miulo operative on tho termiiii'lion ot tho contract now current witli the Union Castle, Company." 'Then' were then sov<;rnl months or that contract yet (o run, but there is nothing in (lie Act tlint .-.lands in tho way of its rcii"irii.l iviili the wmio rompany, provided the liitler is prepared to comply with the conditions above mentioned in regard In combines nnd relml.cs. Ho fin-, continued (lip "J'o-,t." I lie ("iovei-n----menfc ha< Iwd only oni" nuVr i<> conlruet for n mail service under Iliosc condilioiis, but it liiih not ImH'U «u<cit:uu.<l. Nor Inn miy ilrri-iinii bren iirrivcd «t coiici'Miiiif,' tin'' prniw.-ak lo pnrelm*' nr, iillcniii(ivoly. build u llri'l «r niiiil slraiiiers. A Hcliemo wjiH fontalivcly nnd privalelv discussed by (ii-ncrnl Ilotli.'i, Sir David (iraair, mwl' Mr. I'lVhrr d'.riiii" '.Miiiisti?!- (if Atislrnliu) when I hey met lit Ihn liupcrial ConfenMice in June ln>l, lor f«mf.li Africa and Au>lr;ilia l-i joihUy nwii end rnnlrnl n niuil hnrvioe Hint wmili! •servo liiitb (.'ountvi'. , ?, but nolbiiiit is <]<•• finitely known of thn terms fit tho pni-pof-.il.