§ 128. Squadron-Leader Kinghornasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what improvement there has recently been in railway facilities in Southern Rhodesia, with special reference to the carriage of copper from Northern Rhodesia and chrome ore from Southern Rhodesia.
§ Mr. A. HendersonI have been asked to reply. The Southern Rhodesia Government state that general traffic conditions on the Rhodesia Railways have recently improved considerably. Exports of 167W copper depend on the ability of the railways to move sufficient supplies of coal to the Northern Rhodesia copper belt and the position should continue to improve with the arrival of new locomotives and rolling stock. Monthly exports of copper through Beira during the year ended 30th September, 1947, averaged 18,800 tons. In December, 22,000 tons were moved. Exports of chrome ore have risen from a monthly average of 14,000 tons to 20,000 tons for January, 1948, and a further increase is expected.