GOLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22023, 4 August 1933, Page 11

GOLD

THE TIMES SUPPLEMENT. (Frok Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 23. Now that gold looms so largely in the public eye and so much dependg upon its proper use, it was appropriate that in Times should issue a Gold Supplement this week. It would indeed be difficult to overrate the historical importance of gom in the economic and cultural history ot the human race, says the writer of the explanatory article. from whatever angle we regard it the influence of gold on human behaviour has been immensely significant. There aie even those who maintain that it was one ot the principal causes of the decline am fall of the Roman Empire, but be that as it may, for how much of modern history has it not been a decisive tac101'’ Who but for the yellow metal would have heard of proud Cortez, or ot Sir Francis Drake; and what without it would have been the story not only ot the Americas but also of Australia and South Africa? Nor must its significance be confined to the grosser externalities of history. How much the poorer would have been the literary and artistic heritage of mankind without it is immediately apparent as soon as wo reflect how rich are the associations of the words “gold and “golden” in the known literature ot every language, and how wide is the use of the precious metal in the decorative arts.

Never before, perhaps, has so much been published under one cover about gold. Experts of every aspect of the subject have contributed to the number. There are 42 articles, and such subjects as the following are dealt with. Monetary gold stocks, gold standard, paper systems, carthbound treasure, London bullion market, the Royal mint, equipment of mines, transport of gold, Hatton Garden, in legend and literature, treasure from the sea, ami jewellery. A Now Zealand article appears in the section devoted to Goldfields of the World. The writer, Mr <l. A. Agncw, gives an historical sketch of the gold mining ot the Dominion since 1852, and describes the extraordinary activity on all the fields at the present time. The article is illustrated with photographs of gold dredging on the West Coast and in Skipper s Gorge, Otago. , A letter ot appreciation appears in i lie Times to-day, ami it no doubt voices the opinions of many others who have been able to study the enlightening supplement. The writer says:—. . “As far as I know nothing ot its kind has every been issued before, _ and the clear, comprehensive and concise character of the information conveyed to the public was just what was required at tjie time when gold looms so largely in the public eye. “ The world to-day is suffering from lack of confidence, and in this respect it is well known that many investors in goldmining companies, far removed from the city and the countries which produce gold, have not had opportunities of knowing much about the industry in which their capital is invested. The able and informative supplement of yesterday must have surely been widely appreciated by investors. The views on the position ot gold in relation to world conditions so well described in its various aspects should go a long way to restore the confidence of those interested in gold and the part it will play in the future prosperity of the world.”