NEW GUINEA RUBBER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 11 January 1944, Page 4

NEW GUINEA RUBBER

PRODUCTION RESUMED Sydney, Jan. 4. New Guinea rubber plantations recently cleared of Japanese are already in production for the Allies. It is expected that by July this year output will exceed the pre-war production of 1200 tons a year. The work of nursing the plantations back to full production is being done by 73 white civilian planters, assisted by hundreds of natives. The rubber will be a vital addition to the very short supplies available to Australia. The planters returned to their rubber trees in July, long before the Japanese had been pushed from the area. The Japanese advance in Papua forced a temporary halt to their work, but they resumed while the enemy were still fighting in the region. In the thick of heavy fighting the Army assigned a unit to keep the plantations in order by clearing the rapidly-growing jungle.

The planters are virtually production shock troops dependent upon the Army for supplies. They receive medical treatment in military hospitals, and their stay in the territory is dependent

on the will of the G.O.C. New Guinea Force. The planters have been instructed to produce rubber to the fullest resources of the territory, irrespective of any damage or detriment to the future of the trees. Owners receive a rate of payment

fixed by the Government, with a margin of profit guaranteed to be not less than the pre-war figure