SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 220, 22 October 1909, Page 4

SOUTH AFRICA.

TUE AGUICULTUKAL OUTLOOK. Mr. \V. T. Anderson, a member 01 tin 1 South African Legislative Assoiublv. who is 0110 of the puny of tlie Chamber of Commerce Conference delegates ihi'V visiting tin; Dominion, speaks in a most hopeful strain of tin: rural outlook ol .South Africa. The Governments have realised Hie necessity of fostering agriculture, and it is now making satisfactory progress, says Mr. Anderson. The Hocks and herds have milde a very gratifying increase since the war, in fact, at the present time, sufficient meat is being produc il locally to enable the country to do witnout the frozen article. 'At the preseut tiihe there are 11,110(1,000 silicon in the country, whereas at the close of the w ir there was only 1,000,000. The Orange Kiver Colony, especially the northern portions of it, contains some magnificent agricultural land, and is fairly well watered. This territory should ultimately meet, all the requirements of SouHi Africa in regard to wheat. I'fto colony is already noted iu Africa for the quality of the fruit it produces. Oi course, cereal crops can also be grown in Cape Colony and Natal, the soil nevr the coast being particularly fertile. Last year was a. magnificent one for the fininors of South Africa, in fact, were it not for dry seasons agricultural pursuits in South Africa would be. as profitable as in any part of the globe. Tie formerly dreaded rinderpest could now be coped with. The country needed immigration of a funning class. In Rhodesia exceptional terms were being offered intending settlers by the Chartered Company, which, in addition to assisting men on to the land, provided expert advisers, cheap railway facilitii", and assisted in marketing the produce to the best advantage The company 'had now opened up the land to a distance of nearlv 000 miles past Vietom Falls.

■Generally, says Mr. Anderson, the old happy-go-lucky style of farming of the Doer settler was giving place to a more up-to-date system and a more intel'igent method of dealing with local comditions, The future of South Africa pointed to the fact that its farmers would not only be able to supply tli" food wants of the country, but be sooii in a position to take their place as exporters to the main markets of the world.