SPECIAL REPORTS FOR FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. 235
Production is fast increasing, and it is anticipated that a surplus
will soon be available for exportation, Southwest Africa absorbing
part of next season’s production.
Supplemental report from the consul at Durban.
To the above information the consul at Durban adds details which
are taken as follows from his report to the Cape Town office:
There appear to be no trusts or combinations controlling trade
soncerning which any printed information is available.
The soap business is controlled by Messrs. Lever Bros., who have
the whole trade of South and East Africa in their hands. The
Indian market is also supplied from here. This company controls
the trade in high-class as well as common soaps. It has agreements
with Colgate, Pears, and other firms, so that the business of the
rincipal soap manufacturers of Great Britain is managed by Messrs,
Lever Bros., competition having been swept away.
This firm carries on only a cash business so far as Natal is concerned,
 the purchaser attending to the transportation of his acquired
wares.
The sugar industry is often referred to as a trust. It is bounty fed
to the extent of £3 ($14.60) a ton on all sugar manufactured. This
practically keeps out all foreign manufactured sugar, including that
from other British possessions. This industry is in the hands of
comparatively few individuals who control the mills and own ths
timited number of refineries. Recent alteration of the law governing
the supply of indentured Indian labor has almost doubled the cost of
field labor. Attempts are being made on the larger and more up-todate
 estates to use machinery to a certain extent, and experiments
are also being made with white labor in some departments.
The coal-mining industry is also said to be to some extent worked
on the cooperative plan. The entire production is, however, relatively
 small when compared with that of the United States. There
are several dozen companies in the Natal Coal Owners’ Association,
but this can hardly be considered as a syndicate or trust.
The shipping combine is perhaps the closest trust in South Africa.
A combination known as the Conference Lines lays down the terms
and conditions upon which shipowners are permitted to do business
with South Africa. For instance, imports may be brought into this
country by vessels of the Union Castle Steamship Co., the Natal
Line (Bullard and King), the Harrison-Rennie Line, the Clan Line,
the Ellermann-Harrison Line, the Canadian South African Line,
the Prince Line (from New York), and a few others, but only the
purely South African lines are permitted to take freight out of the
gountry.
is of the White Star Line, the Blue Funnel Line, the Peninsular
 and Oriental Line (branch service), and the Aberdeen Line may
either take or leave passengers when going to or from Australia, but
they can take freight only to or from Australia.
Rates from New York and Canada are also fixed by the Conference
 Lines in London and they are high, compared with other freight
rates from both places.
Condensed milk is another article which is under control, and nc
foreign manufacturer of this article can bring his goods into this
market except with permission from Nestlé Milk Co., in London.