THE PRICE OF RADIUM

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1929, Page 3

THE PRICE OF RADIUM

NO LIKELIHOOD OF A FALL. SIR OTTO BEIT’S GIFT. LONDON, Dec. 5. The fact that Sir Otto Beit's gift ,of £50:009 will enable the London hospitals to purchase only a little over four grammes of radium, has led to renewed inquiry as to when the price of the precious metal may lie ••xpecleo to fall. The London firm who act as tbo sole agents in this country of the Belgian company which is the main source of supply, announces that there is no prospect, -so far as they are concerned. of any diminution in the price of radium in the near future. Radium is being sold at a fixed price of approximately £12.600 a gramme throughout the world, ft is point-:' out, however that the price of radium has decreased considerably in the pa.s ! few years. Before it was stabilised at the present price, about twelve montir ago, radium cost nearly £3OOO gramme more. The suggestion is being made iluO public institutions might lie permittc' to buy nutium on some system of deferred payments. No saios have yel been made on that basis, but it is possible thait sympathetic consideration would lie given to any definite proposal made. There is a good deal of curiosity as to the durability of radium. It has been freely staled that it will last for ever—and such a fascinating possibility is certainly attractive. A distinguished radiologist has proved that, as far as is huinanlj ascertainable, a given piece of ; album will probably last for three thousand years. It has been calculated with some degree of confidence that after 1600 years a piece of radium may b expected to have depreciated by about fifty per cent in radio activity.