Mozambique Convention

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1923, Page 4

Mozambique Convention

The Convention j drawn lip between the Government oi | the Transvaal and the .Mozambique ’ Government to replace the old "modus I vivendi” which had then boon in force ■ for seven years, and oi which the main I purpose was to assure the Irinisvaal ! mines of an adequate supply ot native j labour. The first part of the Coiivcn- ] tioil consists of the terms and eomlii (ions under which natives may be re- | cruited for the Transvaal mines.in the ! .Mozambique Province, the Aclministra- . tion receiving from the mines certain i direct payments in the way of passj port fees and so forth, as well as do- | riving the indirect benefit which results°from the wages earned by .the i natives and largely spent within their native Province. The second portion : of the Convention prescribed means j and methods for developing the inn: j and export traffic of the I ransvanl via i lyoureneo Marques, and was strongly j criticised at* the time of Fnion on : the ground that it placed the Transvaal Government and its heir, the Union Government, under the obligation to develop the trade of a foreign port in competition with the trade over the Natal and Capo routes. By the arrangement-- under this chapter of the Convention the Dclagoa route, "as guaranteed not. less than fifty, and not more than fifty-five per cent of the commercial seaborne tonnage carried by rail to the so-called competitive area. Under a supplementary agreement between the Transvaal, the Cape, and Natal, the tonnage conveyed to (he competitive zone via Natal ports was to ho limited to 30 per cent of the whole, and that via Cape ports to 20 per cent. The third part of the Convention dealt with commercial relationships between tiie Transvaal and Mozambique, and specially provided for the free interchange of the products of the soil or the industry of the two territories without liability for Customs or transit dues. M hen I ntoit was achieved the 1 nion Government took the place of the Transvaal Government for all purposes of the Con- , vent ion. but it was specifically provici- j eii that its provisions should apply only to the areas originally content- j plated. The duration of the Convention was for ten years from April Ist. 1009, and was to continue thereafter from year to year until either Government should give one year’s notin- to the other of its intention to terminate it. 7nrT America. A skilled whip, he handled his own coaches against the best drivers in the world. Tn 1919 when financial difficulties threatened the New York Horse Show Mr Moore gave £20.000 to ensure success.