Selected Papers 1953~1957 by Sir Ronald Prain (Inscribed to Roy Welensky)
Two volumes.
A volume of collected speeches and writings by Sir Ronald Prain, published in London in 1958 by the Rhodesian Selection Trust (RST).
Inscribed by the author to Sir Roy Welensky, Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland.
As the Chairman and Chief Executive of RST, Prain was a central figure in the copper mining industry of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) during the era of the Central African Federation. These papers document his influential, and at times controversial, strategies during a critical period of decolonization.
The "Colour Bar" and African Advancement: Prain used his public statements to advocate for the promotion of African workers into skilled roles, challenging the established racial "colour bar" in the mining industry. He believed that training Africans was both a moral necessity and an economic reality as labor turnover shifted in the 1950s.
Political Maneuvering: The volume captures Prain’s initial support for the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland as a "middle way" between rising Black nationalism and Southern African apartheid.
Copper Economics: The papers include detailed discussions on the global copper industry, including pricing mechanisms, the role of the London Metal Exchange, and the cyclical nature of mining.
Development Aid: Prain’s writings detail his philosophy on corporate social responsibility, including RST’s provision of multi-million pound loans for projects specifically benefiting Africans, such as irrigation on the Kafue river and educational development.
Sequels: This volume is the first in a series; a subsequent collection titled Selected Papers Vol. II (1958–1960) was also published, with later volumes covering up to 1967.
Related Works: For a more comprehensive look at his career, Prain later authored Copper: The Anatomy of an Industry (1975) and his autobiography, Reflections on an Era: Fifty Years of Mining in Changing Africa (1981).
Spine faded. Prelims slightly foxed.
Each vol 150mm x 225mm x 25mm
R1,500
