The Copra Industry.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 26, Issue 63, 3 August 1915, Page 2

The Copra Industry.

Not for a long period has so large a portion of tho earth s surface been added to the British Empire as the huge tract of ocean and isle which the signing of the article of surrender at Herbertshohe has placed under our control.

The area of this tract is-almost as large as Australia —something like 2,000 miles square ; and its population, considering the actual amount of territory is proportionately very much larger. German New Guinea — which embraces Kaiser Wilhelmsland, New Britain, New Ireland, the German Solomons and the Laclrones, Marianne and Caroline groups has a population of 107,399, of which 103,909 are natives ; the remainder are whites and Chinese —1233 of the former and 1377 of the latter. The Chinese are employed as carpenters, tailors, coolies, plumbers, and engineers.

Copra reigns supremo as a moneymaking proposition in these islands. After the land has been acquired the expenses are small and the profits even and high. Eahour is plentiful and easily obtained ; one simply recruits as much as one requires at £5 a head on a three years’ contract. Each boy, on his arrival, undergoes medical inspection, and is then enrolled In the Government books. A number is given to each native by which means the authorities are able to trace his whereabouts, watch his length of service, wages, and so forth,

Five marks a head is the tax levied on the signature of each contract, and - if the boy consents to stay and the employer desires it, the contract may be renewed ; otherwise tlie employer must see that the boy is sent back to his horiie and all his travelling expenses must he paid. Although princely from a native standpoint, the wages are not'Tiigh. live to six shillings a month, onethird deducted for tobacco ; while his keep consists of two to three good meals a day, and every Saturday brings an allowance of one stick of trade tobacco, value one halt-penny, some soap and matches, and a tin of meat. A bowl for his rice and a blanket to sleep in are presented to him directly he joins the plantation. Rubber is also grown in these fertile islands though it has not succeeded in ousting copra. Three varieties of rubber have been planted, 787 hectares (a hectare equals two and a half acres) in the Bismarck Archipelago representing 124,696 trees.

Although the rubber plantations have paid well, the collapse of the boom has made its influence felt, and most rubber producing plantations now are side lines of big copra estates. The only serious rival which the cocoanut palm has had is rubber; though taro, arrowroot; bananas, pineapples and other tropical fruits are freely cultivated, often as catch crops for cocoanuts.