It was announced last Saturday that a mains vivendi had
been arrived at on the South African railway rates dispute. The question cannot be finally settled till the calling together of a South African Inter-Colonial Conference; but it is well that a provisional arrangement has been come to. The main point at issue is the distribution of the Orange River Colony trade between the ports of Cape Colony and Natal. The compromise which has been reached provides for some equit- able division between the Eaat and West railway systems of the Orange River Colony, which connect respectively with Durban and with Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and East London. It is also rumoured that the Imperial Government intend to appoint an independent railway expert to report on the whole question of South African railways, in order that the Conference when it is summoned may have full materials for a decision. The difficulty is the old one where separate States have a common interest and are as yet unfederated. The economio waste and the political friction of the different railway systems should sooner or later convince South Africa of the need of a common Executive for common interests.
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