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.

    12/134 (page 6)
    The limited allotment of 5,200 tons a month for Northern Rhodesia consumers other than the mines imposed a severe handicap on the coal-burning industries. Production of lime and bricks was restiicted and, on one occasion, the Chilanga cement factory had to close down for want of coal. A serious interruption to industry was averted only by the action of the copper mining companies, who generously loaned some of their own allocations to other consumers. Difficulties were also encountered with transport. Cargoes arrived at the main seaports with an increased volume of goods for Northern Rhodesia, and the railways serving the ports found that the shipments exceeded their clearing capacity. Large accumulations of goods occurred. But a notable achievement was that at Beira, where goods amounting to 87,000 tons awaiting movement inland on 1st January, 1952, were cleared by the end of the year. During the year the port handled a record of 2,500,000 tons. Work started on the rail connection between Bannockburn in Southern Rhodesia and Pafuri in Portuguese East Africa and is expected to be finished in 1955. During the year the Rhodesia Railways administration revised their rates and fares. The new rates came into force on 1st July. COMMUNICATIONS Good progress was made on the Territory’s road development programme during 1952. Four firms of contractors and three Public Works Department construction teams completed a total of 122 miles of bitumen surfacing, bringing the total mileage of Class I roads open to traffic to 297 by the end of the year. The expenditure on road construction and maintenance during 1952 was more than £1,000,000. Commercial aviation continued to expand. During the year the “ Comet ” began its scheduled flights between the United Kingdom and South Africa, via Livingstone. Plans were also made to introduce tourist air travel services to Central Africa. These are expected to operate in 1953 and should result in a considerable increase in air traffic. During 1952 the bearing strength of the Ndola Airport— the main airport serving the Copperbelt—was increased. In addition the main runway at Lusaka was completed and an electrical flare path provided. Various secondary airfields in the Territory were improved and the availability of these airstrips has made possible the increased use of internal air transport. HEALTH SERVICES A steady improvement in both the scope and extent of health services characterised the year’s work. The Health Department was able to a greater extent than before to increase its work in the rural