RADIUM PURCHASE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11706, 19 December 1923, Page 8

RADIUM PURCHASE

“A SATISFACTORY PRICE.” AN EXPERT’S ADVICE. In order to secure an eminent author* «ity in support of the judgment of the Wellington Hospital Board the chairman of the hoard, Mr F. Castle, cabled to Sir Ernest Rutherford a summary of the radium selling contract (price, terms, guarantee, etc.) offered to the board by the combination represented by Mr Luber. Mr Castle last evening told the Radium (Radiation) Committee that “the Hospital Board had received a cabled reply from Sir Ernest, who considered the terms of the offer quite satisfactory from a commercial point of view. Mr P. Fraser, M.P.: “And Sir Ernest Rutherford is the greatest living authority.” Mr Castle added that this cablegram should confirm in the mind of the public what the board had been quite confident of—that the price quoted to the board represented the lowest price quoted for radium to-day. If the eubecription merely came in too slowly to permit the board to close the contract there was a risk that the price would rise, but he did not anticipate a sudden rise. Apparently there must be a rise if tho Congo 4 per cent, ore became exhausted, and if radium-mining again had to depend on 2 per cent, ore. The canvassing and collecting forces for the radium “drive” on Friday are still undermanned, but the committee last evening decided to go ahead. Tho collecting cards in the Government departments and .warehouses are considered to be showing good results, and the secretary remarked last evening that it everybody contributed to the Radium (Radiation) Appeal as well as these staffs it would not be necessary to go outside the city for funds..