SOUTH AFRICA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 399, 18 June 1908, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA.

Writing to a resident in Foxton from Port Fllizabeth, South Africa, a gentleman who was resident there prior to coming to New Zealand, where he stayed for a couple of years, subsequently returning again to South Africa, does not show a very happy state of things in that part of the Empire. We cull a portion of the letter “ N.Z. seems to have had rough times, but they are not to be compared with what we’ve had and are still having in this country, and what is far worse no brighter prospects, for the future. Kimberly with all its diamond "mines has practically closed down, and that means 120,000 people out of employment. Consequently other businesses that are more or less dependent on the mines, have had to stop too. Then drought is playing havoc with the ciops. and stock in the fanning districts, as no rain has fallen in a great many places for over 12 months. It is positively heartbreaking to go down the town hero and see the difference to-day, to what it was three years ago. Old established and wealthy firms have ceased to operate here. Stores and offices empty by the score all over the place, in fact, it is almost waste of time for merchants, and storekeepers to open their premises daily for the amount of business done and what little is done, there is practically no profit in it, as every one vies each other to do it. We have two large factories, the one (of which I am manager) the other at Bloemfontein and we can make twenty tons of sweets daily in each factory, besides other lines yet we do not sell one ton a day now. During the past three years my company' has lost ,£IB,OOO. Well, this can’t go on for ever, in fact ray directors meet this week to see what is to be done, as they say, although wealthy, losses must stop. I rather think the Bloemfortein factory will be closed as by far the most they lose is there. If this is done I can make this place pay.”