The latest issue of South Africa Report, a handout from the South African Embassy, is entirely devoted to British/South African trade. The facts and figures given are a powerful condemnation of the hypocrisy of British big business. To quote the preambles
",..United Kingdom exports to South Aprica have increased by 52% in the past two years, In 1964 the trade, in both directions, was worth £372.3 million (South West Africa included), with British exports showing a credit balance over imports of £82.2 million, her highest with any trading partner. Today only the United States and Australia import more from Britain than does South Africa..."
This journal ‘contains so much material that it is difficult to decide what to reproduce. However, of immediate interest to the ordinary man in the street is its centre-piece, which gives details of Britain's import of South African food. The following table is based on the journal's figures:
Proportion of Britain's total imports Commodity Rank $1964 $1964 Corned Beef Third place after Argentina and Paraguay (p>. °2a00 Other tinned Third place after Australia and Ireland 625 720
meats Eggs Third place after Poland and Sweden 9.0 17.0 Tinned . Virtually the sole supplier 99.0 9920
Pilchards Maize Second place after the U.S.A. 22.0 24.0 Oranges Second place after Israel 282.0 25.0 Grapefruit First place 3500 = 55400 Lemons Second place after Italy 1950° 21.0 Pineapples The only major supplier 77-0 . 82.0 Apples Second place after Australia 2320 2320 Grapes First place 51.0 47.0 Pears First place At,0-° See0 Tinned First place 62.0 59.0
Peaches Tinned Second place after Australia 25,0 2720
Pears Tinned First place 7240. -~.62,0
Apricots Tinned First place 37-0 36.0
Pineapples Pineapple & First place 40.0 52.0 grape juice Tinned Green the only major supplier 72.0 80,0
Beans Wine Third place after Spain and France 12,0. 11,0
Such massive imports of foodstuffs from South Africa raise many questions. It is inevitable that the Co-operatives must be handling a huge progrtion. Last year moves to initiate a national boycott were defeated, this year, a proposal from the Nottingham Co-op Party that South African produce should be separately displayed was also defeated, find the means to pursue this question locally and nationally,
The left must