SOUTH AFRICA’S TRADE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 200, 21 May 1936, Page 12

SOUTH AFRICA’S TRADE

Gold and Wool Exports

The preliminary returns of the imports and exports of the Union of South Africa Tor 1935. although showing an import surplus of £1,610.175 (or £4.000.000 less than the 1934 figures), are regarded as very satisfactory. The comparison for the two years arc as follows:—

In both years the gold included in (ho export figures is calculated at "standard” rate. The export of gold last year totalled 10,1X52,095 ounces, valued at £42,741.0(54, and in 1934, 8.140.326 ounces, valued at £34,578,061; < nlculnted at the price at the time of export, last year's premium was £28,624,530, and in 1934 it was £21.235,048. Wool exports last year reached a value of £8.924.370. compared with £7.585.760 in 1934; maize at £1.557.732 represented an increased value of £536.600; and sugar at £1.924.956 was nearly £925.000 higher. Reflecting the Union's mining and industrial expansion, imports of mining machinery valued at. £2,031,480. showed an increase of over £620,000; imports of industrial machinery were £1,512,099, against £1,393,317 in 1934. Of the Union's total exports Empire countries took 81.6 per cent, (including gold!, 0r'51.9 per cent., excluding gold; the United Kingdom's figures were, respectively. 77.8 and 42.1 per cent. Imports from the United Kingdom represented 45.6 ]>er cent., and Empire countries 57 per cent, of South Africa's total imports. The latest available figures of industrial production show that protected secondary industries hnd an output valued at little more titan £19,000,000 and employed about 27.000 Europeans and 22.000 nonEuropeans. The Ruud gold mines last year produced gold to a total value of nearly £75.000.000: spent over £42.000.000 in working costs (about equally divided between purchase of plant, stores, etc., and wages!j the profits returned by the mines totalled a little over £32.500,000. of which just over one-half has been distributed ill dividends; and the Government (on tho assumption that its pariicipation will not bn on a lower scale than for the financial year ended March last, for which it totalled over £14.000.000). will receive the lion's share of the balance. Base Metals Market By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright (Received May 20, 9 p.m.) London. May 19. The official London (middle) quotations for Tuesday, as reported by tha Australian Mines and Metals Association, com pare with those previously cabled as fol low

Morris Hedstrom Dividend Morris, Hedstrom. Ltd. yesterday ad visaed the Stock Exchange Association that the directors recommend a final dividend of 24 per cent., payable June 30 making 5 per ."ent. for the year. Transfer books will be closed from June 15 to 30, both days inclusive. The dividend is nt nn unchanged rate. Gold Mining Returns Waipapa Iteneh Gold Dredging Co.. Lid., reports that the pumping out of the s : lt from the dredge pmldck has been completed, ami dredging will be resumed on Saturday. A wa<h-up will lie taken later this week. By Telegraph—Pre ' . ■•••hiii-.ii Gore, May 20. file Waiinumu -Inieing return was 50oz. 3dwl. for 16S hours of sluicing in the fortnight ended May 10. Colombo Tea Market By Telegraph— Press Association. Dunedin. May 20. Mr. L. M. Wright has received the following’cabled report on the Colombo ten sale of May 19: Al yesterday's auction of 2} million pounds, common tens remained firm, and prices for medium and line grades advanced following the improved quality of the offering. Smaller quantities are available. Next week's sale is catalogued for 2i million pounds.

1934. £ 19.35. £ Imports ... .. (56,.304.4.39 75,325.920 Exports ... .. 60,620,509 73,715,745

Mar 1S. Mar HI. I’er ton (’or tot) 'onpor i' Q f] « 1 standard. spot 13 9 36 11 101 Ditto, forward ... .10 in 4-1 36 1S 11 Electrolytic .... ■to 15 0 10 15 0 to 11 - 0 41 5 0 Wire bars 41 0 41 1 end— Snot 1.1 10 0 15 10 0 Forward 15 11 3 15 11 3 s..citer— Spot 11 13 9 11 10 0 Forward 11 17 6 14 13 9 I inSpot 203 0 0 200 12 6 Eonvard IPS 0 0 195 12 6 Standard, per 07. . 20 9 Kid 20.1 d. ;n<» 2” 3 10 1. 22 1 ■Sd.