Annual report on Northern Rhodesia / Colonial Office.

  • Colonial Office
Date:
[1952]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on Northern Rhodesia / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/134 (page 4)
    contribution to the United Kingdom, following a motion by the Chairman of the Unofficial Members, Mr. Roy Welensky. ANOTHER RECORD TRADE YEAR Northern Rhodesia’s foreign trade in 1952 showed a marked increase over the previous year. Imports rose from £35,377,000 to £42,760,000 and exports and re-exports increased from £67,087,000 in 1951 to £82,604,000. The favourable visible trade balance therefore reached the record figure of £39,844,000 as against £31,710,000 in the previous year. The Territory’s export trade was again dominated by copper, which, with the lesser amounts of lead and zinc, represented 96 per cent, of the total exports in 1952. The United Kingdom again provided the greatest volume of trade—36.4 per cent, of the total imports and 69.2 per cent, of the total exports. Imports from Southern Rhodesia and South Africa rose by £3,000,000, but exports to these countries fell by £4,000,000 mainly because of fewer consignments of cattle hides, unmanufactured tobacco and timber. Imports from foreign countries increased in 1952 by nearly £1,000,000 and exports by more than £500,000. The country’s favourable visible trade balance with the non-sterling area dropped slightly from £9,745,000 in 1951 to £9,136,000 in 1952. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT Industrial and commercial activity in Northern Rhodesia continued to expand during 1952. New mining operations were begun on the Copperbelt, and sites for fight and heavy industrial undertakings were developed at some of the main towns. Work on the new Chibuluma and Baluba Mines had not reached the production stage but shafts were being sunk at each centre. The proposed Bancroft Mine, to be established fifteen miles north of Nchanga, is an important project. When completed, it will be about four times the size of Chibuluma. It is to be sunk in two mines, one at Kirila Bomwe and one at Konkola. Diamond drilling has been carried out over a very large footage, and test holes are being sunk to determine the best positions for the shafts. The Kansanshi Mine, which was developed many years ago and then abandoned, is to be re-opened. During 1952 fresh exploratory work was carried out, the old main shaft was reconditioned and developing took place at the 300-feet level. In addition to actual operations, a number of exploratory companies was engaged on prospective work during the year. These included the Mwinilunga Mines Ltd., who were prospecting west of the Copperbelt, the Kadola Mines Ltd., working south of the Copperbelt and the Luapula Mines Ltd., all of whom were operating under exclusive prospecting rights covering very considerable areas. The total value of minerals produced in Northern Rhodesia in 1952 was £79,430,120, to which blister copper contributed £45,373,431