GOLD BY AIR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16375, 24 June 1927, Page 12

GOLD BY AIR

BOON TO S. AFRICA All NFS JOHANNESBURG, May 5. Mr. Samuel Evans, chairman of the Crown Mines, Ltd., presiding at the annual meeting of tbe company, referred to the importance to the gold producers of South Africa of the near advent, of facilities for the export of gold to other countries by air. The total value of the gold exported from Hie Onion and from Rhodesia last year was JU44,62H,66ii weighing, with packing about 390 tons. The freight, insurance, sundry expenses, and Joss of interest involved in transporting this gold to other countries amounted approximately to £375,000. Judging by experience elsewhere, ha did not think it an exaggeration to assume that there would have been a saving to the gold-mining companies of Soutli Africa of about £IOO,OOO had the export, of gold from the Union and from Rhodesia been effected by air instead of by surface transport,. Mr. Evans also foresaw the use ot aeroplanes to transport gold to the Band refinery from Khodesia and outlying districts of the Union. This would take only 21 hours from the Pilgrim's Best district and T 2 hours from the Siiamva mine in Khodesia and would prove a great, boon. He believed dial the lime was not far distant when controllers of gold-mines m the outlying districts would find it to their interest to make provision on their properties lor safe landing-places tor aeroplanes. Indeed,, having regard to what was taking place in Germany, he believed that in a few years Soutli African towns will consider aerodromes almost as essential as railway stations.