TREASURES MELTED

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1931, Page 6

TREASURES MELTED

»>♦<> ORNAMENTS'AS BULLION. The decTThe of the £ and 5 the subsequent falling away of dividends from foreign securio’es have caused people in all walks of life in England to turn their gold ornaments into bullion.

“The amount of gold passing through our hands for conversion into bullion has increased sixfold or seVf,R fold during the past few weeks,” an official of an important Hatton Garden firm of assayers told a ‘‘'Sunday' Chronicle,” representative. “Most of our work comes from dealers in the normal course, but we hayhad quite a lot of private people customers lately. They bring m - jewellery of all kinds, watch-cases, chains, cull'-iinks, brooches, tie-pms, anu everything imaginable in gold.” Many very old family pieces Imre found their way into the hands of the assayers.

“Even the poor people are taking advantage of the high prices for gold now prevailing,” declared, another assayer and refiner. “Many of them tell me that they are simply raising a little money ior Christmas, and others hope their gold will pay their income-tax demands. “Old, heavy gold chains, oldfashioned gold brooches and cigarette cases have also been offered in amazing numbers.” It is estimated that between 1500 and 1700 ounces of gold articles are being converted to bullion in this country every day.