Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1930 MINING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 26 March 1930, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1930 MINING IN SOUTH AFRICA

THE international Mining and Metallurgical Congress, assembled at Capetown, has already been signalised by the remarkable speech made by Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, in reforence to the prospective expansion of South Africa's output of copper. "The Northern Rhodesia copper bolt," ho said, "promised to be the greatest mineral discovery of our time, when ton million tons will be mined annually and whites will bo numbered by tons of thousands. The copper Held was of the greatest importance to Empire development.'" In opening the Congress, the Earl of Athlone, GovernorGeneral of the Union of South Africa, hr.d pointed out the immense importance of South Africa as gold producer of the world. Of course he was referring to that most wonderful of all goldfields, the Rand, which produces annually some 40 millions sterling of the precious metal, and has been doing that, or something like >t, for a quarter of a century. No leferonce appears J.o have been made to South Africa's production of diamonds, which is some 4,372,000 carats out of a world's total of 7,363,000 carats annually. Last rear, South Africa produced upwards of 10 million ounces of gold, the world's total being 14^ ; million ounces. So it will be seen how big a part the Union plays m respect of the world's supply cf gold and diamonds. Now, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer foretells a similarly great development of South Africa (or rather of Rhodesia*) as a copper producer. In his reference to the Rhodesian copper belt, we presume that Sir Ernest included the gre?t copper deposits of Katanga, which lie in the Congo territory, at a point not fpr across the northern boundary of Northern Rhodesia. We have told previously the romantic story of that copper-field, but it will bear repeating, because it is a valuable witness to British energy and perseverance. When, over thirty years ago, Cecil Rhodes had brought the vast territory of Rhodesia under the Crown, he sent a mining engineer named Williams to report on its mineral resources. Mr Williams discovered the copper belt of Northern Rhodesia, but the natives, anxious to help him, told him that further north, at Katanga, there were mountains of copper ore. So the bold prospector went further north, and discovered the great Katanga copper deposits. But he perceived that the lack of access rendered them valueless. He set to work, thereforej to give them access by rail to the nearest port on the west coast of Africa. This was Benguelr, in Lobito Bay, in Portuguese territory. It was only last year, alter thirty years' labour, that the railway lrom Benguela to the eastern border of Portuguese West Africa was completed, at a cost of twelve millions sterling and the doughty pioneer, now knighted, was able to travel by the first train from tlje coast to the Congo territory—a distance of some 700 miles by rail. Before this line could become operative, it would require to be linked up by a Belgian line with Katanga. This, it is understood, has now been flone, and therefore it will not be long before Katanga copper'will be railed to Bengtifila, and thence transhipped to all the great port? of tho world. Already Katanga copper has been lulled via Northern Rhodesia to Beira, m Portuguese East Africa, and thence lias been shipped round the Cape of Good If ope to New York, where it was sold fit a price which was cheaper than that jt the U.S. product. Of course the U.S. Uovernment will seo to it that its tariff wall is, raised'to protect the copper industry of the United StaAes, but nevertheless it is evident that Sir Ernest Oppenheimer is speaking by .the book ,vhen he stresses the importance that the Rhodesian copper belt is destined to be ho markets of the world. Last year the world's production of copper reached wo million tons. Of this the United States produced half. If Sir Ernest Oplonheimer is right, before very long the ihodcsian-Katanga field will be producng as much copper as the United States, md at a cheaper rate. In other words, he control of the world's copper market vill have passed into British hands.