SOUTH AFRICA VERY PROSPEROUS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICA VERY PROSPEROUS

Result Of High Gold Prices

Dominion Special Service.

AUCKLAND, January 12. “South Africa, because of high gold prices, is very prosperous and, in' the amount of unemployment, is probably better off than any other country in the world,” said Mr. C. J. M. Hibberd, of Empangeni, Zululand, who arrived by the Maetsuycker accompanied by his wife. He added that there was no dole for unemployed Europeans, but they could obtain work similar to that provided on public works in New Zealand. Mr. Hibberd has been in South Africa 27 years, and is proprietor of a sugar plantation of 1860 acres and employing 120 blacks. The plantation is exceptionally large,’ as the average size is 600 acres. He pointed out that the domestic market for sugar was heavily protected by the South African Government and the price was maintained at a certain level. Surplus sugar for export had to take its chance on the world market. In discussing the visit of the Minister of Defence, Mr. Pirow, to Herr Hitler, Mr. Hibberd did not consider him to be pro-Gernian in his sympathies. He was a particularly strong man ami was in the running for the office of Prime Minister of the Union.