Wealth From Land

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 5

Wealth From Land

SOUTH AFRICAN RICHES A comprehensive survey of conditions in South Africa, in which he discussed the problems both of primary and secondary industries, was given by Mr A. Foster du Plessis, one of the South African delegates to tho wool conference which was held in Melbourne. Mr du Plessis is secretary of tho South African Wool Council, a member of tho National Wool Association, and economist to the Department of Agriculture at Pretoria. There are 1,200,000 acres in South Africa sown with wheat and 4,000,000 acres with oats, said Mr du Plessis. The production of maize and other cereals, sugar cane, vine and fresh fruits, although smaller than in Australia, was increasing annually. There were 11,000,000 head of cattle, principally of the hardy Afrikander type. These had been developed for breeding and beef purposes, and an export market was being sougat. There were also 2,000,000 dairy cow 3. More than 80 per cent, of the sheep which were being bred in South Africa were pure Alerinos, which were expectedto produce 260,000,0001 b. of wool this year. The importance of wool, as far as primary products were concerned, completely overshadowed everything. Gold production had been assisted greatly by the recent invention of apparatus which enabled mining at greater depths than 8000 ft., said Air du Plessis. Since South Africa left the gold standard in 1932 the increase in the price of gold and low-grade ores had brought great prosperity to the industry. Tho annual production was now worth about £50,000,000. In the years 1929 34 tho value of diamonds produced had decreased from £11,000,00G to £1,150,000, and conditions at Kimberley had become critical. The indu& try was being assisted, and was improving.