Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 1260 The mine owners spoiled by God

Rock cannot determine the reserves of the Rand Gold Mine, but Rock can determine the mining volume of the Johannesburg Mining Union.

Strictly speaking, it is not Roque who can make the decision alone, it is Roque and Stoudemire who jointly control the Johannesburg Mining Union, so it is Rock and Stoudemire who have the final say on how much gold will be produced.

The current Johannesburg Mining Union has a total of 42 nominal members. Excluding those who are small in scale, unstable in output, and may close their doors at any time, there are a total of 12 large-scale and stable output, and these 12 gold mines All of them are under the control of Rock and Stoudemire. There are eight under Rock's name and four under Stoudemire's name.

These 12 gold mines account for more than 70.00% of the gold production in the Rand mining area. Buck, the chairman of the Mining Alliance, may serve as the speaker of the Congress next year, and Aiden, the vice chairman, is likely to go to the newly established Ministry of Mining Resources to serve as the Minister of Mining Resources. .

Although Winston is no longer the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he is well aware of the importance of the Rand Gold Mine. After hearing that the gold mine may face depletion, Winston is very eager to know the specific situation of the Rand Gold Mine.

"This is the annual output of the Rand Gold Mine. Since 1887, the output of the Rand Gold Mine has been soaring all the way. It reached its peak in 1913, when the annual output was 450 tons. After the outbreak of the World War, the gold production of the Rand Gold Mine went from bad to worse. Last year's output was only 230 tons. The Johannesburg Mining Union had 1913 members in 76, but now there are only 42 members left, and the number of gold mines that can stably produce has been reduced to only 12. Experts from the Christian Exploration Company and Niah The Department of Minerals of Saran University estimates the gold reserves of the Rand Gold Mine. Based on last year's production, it can only last for seven years, and then the gold mine will be exhausted." Rock's words are not surprising, and it sounds like there is no medicine can be saved.

In fact, the Rand gold mine is still quite strong, and it has been mined in another time and space until the 21st century.

The nominal output of the Rand Gold Mine last year was indeed only 230 tons. Only Roque and Stoudemire knew the actual output. The gold commissioner stationed in Johannesburg in London had no right to enter those large gold mines. Check the actual output of the mine.

Private property is sacrosanct——

Winston did not speak after reading the production report, and the dead fish stared fixedly at Rock, as if he wanted to see Xiao Lai under Rock's leather robe.

As for the report, everyone knows what's going on, so it goes without saying.

Rock is fearless, and the Rand Bank also counts on the stable exchange rate of gold from the Rand Gold Mine. Let’s forget about London.

Southern Africa can be said to be the only country in the world that still implements the gold standard system. The United States implements the gold exchange standard system. Gold coins are not circulated in the country, but it allows other governments to exchange gold with U.S. dollars. The US dollar as the center of the international monetary system laid the foundation.

Southern Africa still has gold coins in circulation in the country. In the Rand Bank, rand can be exchanged for gold at any time, and there is no limit on the quantity. This requires a huge amount of gold reserves. The countries in the world that still have this ability, A single seedling in Southern Africa.

During the World War, the currencies of various countries depreciated sharply. European countries purchased materials from southern Africa and paid for them in gold.

Southern Africa now has more than 3500 tons of gold reserves, ranking first in the world, and the Rand mining area has contributed a lot.

Correspondingly, the remaining gold reserves in the UK are less than 300 tons, so London urgently needs gold from the Rand Gold Mine.

"Locke, the agreement between the Federal Government of Southern Africa and the British Empire cannot be changed!" Winston had no way to make concessions. Without the gold from the Rand Gold Mine, London's gold bullion standard would have no basis for implementation.

When the federal government of Southern Africa was established, it promised to the British Empire that the gold from the Rand Gold Mine would be used as a condition for the establishment of the federal government.

In other words, London printed paper into pounds and bought the gold from the Rand Gold Mine.

Although the pound is linked to gold, it is printed on paper after all.

Gold is hard-earned.

Prior to this, the exchange had been going on for nearly 20 years.

Otherwise, why do you think Britain launched the second Boer War? If it wasn't for gold, was it to liberate the Boers?

Stop being funny.

"No change, I just remind you that the gold in the Rand Gold Mine is drying up. The British Empire should think of other ways to maintain the international status of the pound, instead of pinning all hopes on the Rand Gold Mine." Rock also said I didn't say that I would eat it up now and turn my face and deny anyone, at least I had to be mentally prepared.

"How do you think about it? I want to exchange pounds for rand, do you want to change it?" Winston also knew that the status of pounds was in decline.

"Don't be kidding—" Rock was embarrassed, it was still dark, don't sleep, wake up.

Winston was really worried about the British Empire, and he couldn't get a definite answer from Roque. Winston went to Johannesburg that night to find Albert Archibald, the British government's gold commissioner in Johannesburg.

As the name suggests, the Gold Commissioner is only responsible for matters related to gold, and has no jurisdiction over other matters.

In Winston's memory, Albert Archibald was a young and capable young man. Unexpectedly, the years are like knives, and he makes people old with knives. When he saw Albert Archibald, Albert Archibald had become a Mediterranean rosacea potbellied middle-aged man.

Alas, when British men reach middle age, the proportion of baldness and fatness is indeed a bit high.

As for rosacea, this has almost become a representative image of the British.

"In the past two years, the situation in the Rand mining area has been really bad. A large number of gold mines have closed down, and the salaries of miners are getting higher and higher. Johannesburg's requirements for the environment are also getting higher and higher. Gold mining is a highly polluting industry, and the cost of mining is getting higher and higher. The higher the increase, the lower the output is inevitable.” Albert Archibald had obvious bags under his eyes, his belly was astonishingly big, and his shirt buttons would collapse at any time. His belt must be particularly elongated, and the general length should not be enough. .

"Is the Rand gold mine drying up?" Winston didn't care about those details. The gold commissioner is a fat job. No matter who is the gold commissioner, without strong self-control, it will be like this in a few years.

It can be seen that Albert Archibald is indeed pampered. His office is in the bustling area of ​​downtown Johannesburg. It is a three-storey white marble office building. Burt Archibald and his family.

Although Winston didn't go up to the third floor, it can be seen from the decoration of the first and second floors that it was worth a lot.

From Winston's point of view, the level of decoration of Buckingham Palace is just like this.

Oh, and there are three Lord cars parked outside the office building, one of which is dedicated to Albert Archibald and his family.

"It's not considered to be depleted, but the output has been decreasing. You know, the average grade of ore in those gold mines with stable production is above 20 grams per ton. If the grade is below [-] grams, it is usually in the Rand mining area. It will be considered worthless for mining.” Albert Archibald was also speechless, five grams per ton, a well-preserved rich ore in other areas, actually has no mining value in the Rand mining area.

Winston had a gloomy expression. Before he came to Johannesburg, he had just supplemented his knowledge about the gold mine. Albert Archibald's words clearly refreshed Winston's understanding of the Rand Gold Mine. .

"Why is there no mining value?" Winston couldn't accept it. In his opinion, these mine owners in Johannesburg were spoiled by God.

"Cost, mainly cost. In Johannesburg, the tax level of gold mines is relatively high. In recent years, the federal government, the Transvaal state government, and the Johannesburg city government have begun to increase environmental pollution control fees. Gold mines are indeed The profit is high, but the cost is higher, and many mine owners cannot afford it, so they can only transfer the gold mine at a low price." Albert Archibald's eyes dodged, and Winston suddenly realized that it was abnormal.

The position of gold commissioner has been dealing with gold mine owners in Johannesburg all year round, so it is difficult to say Albert Archibald's position.

"That is to say, it's not that the output of gold mines has dried up, but that the mine owners have taken the initiative to close the mines and no longer produce them." Winston felt that he had grasped the core of the problem.

"You can't say the same, Christian Exploration Company and Nyasaland University—" Albert Archibald still wanted to correct.

"Use your brain, Mr. Archibald, think about who Christian is from Locke, and who founded Nyasaland University, so the conclusions given by these two are not credible—even if it is certain Reserves should also be presided over by the Royal Society of Exploration, and must not be a local exploration agency in southern Africa." Winston sprayed Albert Archibald with blood—

Hey, this description is inappropriate, it should be said to be a face-to-face——

It doesn't seem to be very suitable, forget it, so be it.

Albert Archibald's face was ashen, and the gold commissioner was also an official. Although Winston was the former prime minister, he has now resigned and has no jurisdiction over Albert Archibald.

"Which is the biggest gold mine in Johannesburg?" Winston asked, "Which is the biggest gold mine in Johannesburg?"

"Locke Gold Mine—" Albert Archibald still knew the current situation of Rand Gold Mine very well.

Rock Gold Mine is the first gold mine under Rock's name. It has been mined steadily for 18 years, and its output has been stable.

Winston was also silent when he heard the name. Rock's industries are spread all over southern Africa, and they are involved in almost all walks of life, and they are all among the best in the industry. The same is true for the Rand mining area, Winston thought. Investigating the specific situation of the Rand mining area, no matter what, you can't get around Rock.

(End of this chapter)