284 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.
I do not know of any buying organizations of jobbers or importers.
Influence of foreign investments and management.—The territories
 of Rhodesia are controled by a company, the British South
Africa Co. In that country large ranching companies have recently
been established. These are alleged to be financed by American
meat-packing concerns, and it is possible that there may soon be large
stock operations there connected with a meat-packing industry.
American managers and engineers have been, more largely in the
past than at present, employed by the mining companies, and
American experts are utilized to some extent in developing the
local tobacco raising and manufacturing industries.
Government aid to industries—All South African products, commodities,
 and manufactures are carried over the Government-owned
railways at special rates, which are stated to be much lower than the
rates charged for foreign goods of similar character.
As stated above, Great Britain and British possessions enjoy &amp; 8
per cent preferential rate of customs duty.
No bounties, unless it be for sugar, are granted by the Union
Government, so far as I am informed, but maize for exportation is
carried at a special rate of 10 shillings ($2.43) per ton of 2,000
pounds from any inland station to any Union seaport.
There is also a special rate for coal for export, and a rate of 5
shillings ($1.22) per ton on oats, barley, and similar cereals disatched
 from places within 100 miles of Cape Town to f. 0. b. Cape
own docks for oversea shipment.
‘There are no very important instances here of facilities being
granted for manufacturing or of discrimination against foreign
material, though there, of course, exists a preference for doing business
 with Great Britain, which preference will possibly be intensified
 as one of the results of the present war.
Wool, hides, and skins.—The recent development, as a result of the
war, of American purchases of South African wool, hides, and
skins, etc., has led to the establishment here of several representatives
 of American manufacturers of textiles and leather goods.
Sugar.—Most of the sugar used in Cape Province comes from
Natal and Zululand. Prior to 1914-15 occasional importations were
necessary, but production has now reached approximately 118,000
tons, which about covers the needs of the Union. About 5,000 tons
come from Portuguese East Africa under an agreement with the
old Transvaal Government whereby it is admitted free of customs
duty. This agreement still has about four years to run.
The import duty on all refined sugar is 3 shillings and 6 pence
{85 cents) per 100 pounds, with the exception of loaf, castor, and
icing, which pay 5 shillings (1.22) per 100 pounds. In the early
part of the present year the Union Government placed an excise of 1
shilling (24.3 cents) per 100 pounds upon all sugar produced in this
country.
The present price of No. 1 refined sugar, packed in pockets of 70
pound each, is 22 shillings and 3 pence ($5.41) per 100 pounds c. i. f.
Cape Town, including excise.
No American sugar has been imported during the past three years
with the exception of cubes, which came to replace 'L'ate’s English
cubes, which have become unobtainable, The American cube is described
 as being of “excellent quality but somewhat large in size.”