A.—4

392

lOth Day.} Trade and Postal Communications [16 June, 1911. and Shipping Conferences. Sir D. de VILLIERS GRAAFF— cont. descriptions, but as he has referred to iron, I will give one case of iron which occurred with us. For the extension of our harbour works a large number of 50-feet long iron tubes were required, and freight was inquired for from the Conference Lines, and the quotation was HZ. a ton to South Africa. The gentleman representing our Harbour Board was not prepared to pay the price, and he went to America. In the interval a little disagreement happened between the shipping companies here, and the agents were able to claim an independent ship, and that independent ship took out the same iron, as to which the quotation by the combine was 111. a ton, at 455. a ton. That is the effect of your combinations, and it is the fact not only from the Mother Country, but also from our Union, that so long as you have a combination, the deferred rebate is a very formidable instrument in the hands of the combination. We have not got to look at it from the point of view of the combination, we have to look at it from our producers' point of view and from our own trade point of view. So long as that continues our industries will not be able to develop as they should. We have brought this Resolution forward in consequence of our own experience. The question of the coastal trade was touched upon. Our coastal trade is also in the hands of the combine. I believe there are only one or two local people who own ships, but if they did not conform to the combine they would soon be wiped out of the way. Therefore the Conference will understand that in this matter the Union Government of South Africa is serious, and they mean to continue doing all they possibly can to remove this incubus from South Africa. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Hear, hear—quite right too. Sir D. de VILLIERS GRAAFF : With regard to the amendment suggested to the motion, which will have the effect of the Conference approving of my Resolution wherever it is prejudicial to trade, the wording is, "in so far as the operations of such conferences are prejudicial to trade." I think we, on behalf of South Africa, need have no fear to accept this, because there is not the slightest hesitation in our minds but that these Conference Lines which exist in South Africa are prejudicial to our trade Mr. BUXTON : I will now read the amendment so as to have it on the notes. I move as an addition to the end of the Resolution, "in so far as the operations of such Conferences are prejudicial to trade." That stands as accepted. CHAIRMAN : The motion as amended is accepted. That is all our programme for to-day. Adjourned to Monday next, at 11 o'clock.