LOW COPRA PRICES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 9

LOW COPRA PRICES

PLANTERS’ SECOND STRING PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA POSSIBILITIES OF COCOA SYDNEY, Jan. 12. The decline in copra prices from £2O and £3O a ton in boom years to about £lO a ton. at present seriously affected planters in New Guinea and Papua, but other industries have been established to take the place of copra to some extent. Production of copra is still considerable, but the total value of trade has materially fallen. Other products, such as rubber, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, desiccated coconut, and tropical fruits, are being exploited to the full extent, while gold production has been of such value to the Mandated Territory that it is now the main source of revenue.

In Papua, planters have been greatly assisted by improved prices of rubber, and the support given to them by the Commonwealth Government with favourable tariffs and a bounty. There is a big market for this rubber in Australia. Coffee production is also increasing in Papua and elsewhere and it is finding a profitable market in Austragives a coffee bounty. lia. The Commonwealth Government Cocoa in New Guinea. Efforts are being made to establish cocoa production in New Guinea to assist planters, many of whom are compelled to migrate to the goldfields part of the year to meet their commitments. Australia consumes cocoa worth several hundred thousands of pounds a year, which for the most part is imported from West Africa, the West Indies, and Samoa. Four large confectionary firms in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart, which utilise most of this cocoa, have been asked to assist the production of New Guinea cocoa, but it is understood that they have explained that their plants and manufacturing systems are adjusted to certain fixed grades, and, consequently, they cannot alter them unless they are guaranteed that they will receive certain quantities and defined grades Practically all the cocoa beans received from New Guinea are being sold, with the aid of the Commonwealth bounty of £ll a ton, but buyers complain of poor grade, bad cleaning, and fermentation. The New Guinea authorities are being urged to control the grading of all cocoa beans produced in that country and shinned to Australia. Cocoa production can easilv be undertaken by the average coconut plan‘er, thus restoring the earning capacity of the copra plantations. It is believed that copra prices will develop a slow recovery during .1935, but after recent experience there is a strong argument in favour of all planters having a second string to their bow. If the quality of cocoa beans is kept up to the standard a good market in the Commonwealth seems assured. Growth of Gold Industry. What New Guinea has lost in the shrinkage of the copra trade has been more than made up by the astonishing growth of the gold industry. It has now reached a total production of ap proximately 250,0000 z. fine, valued at £2,00(1,000 annually, and more than 2000 miners are employed on the Morobe field. There are excellent prospects that Papua also will develop the gold industry in 1935; th'ere are important developments among the islands of Eastern Papua and in Central Papua, as well as on the Lakehamu field on the mainland. Every year trade is increasing in the Southern Pacific, inwardly and outwardly, as is borne out by the increase in Australian shipping. In order, that this may continue to develop it is urged

in exporting and importing circles that there should be-greater co-operation and co-ordination between the. respective Administrations. The. suggest-on has been made that the Commonwealth Government should control the whole of the British possessions in this extensive area, determine policy, and development, and set the standard of administration, bailing that, it is contended that regular conferences should take pla'ce between Governors and administrators of the various territories and island possessions.