Sugar Cultivation

New Industry For Papua

From Our Canberra Correspondent CANBERRA, February 10.

LATTERLY an entirely new form of development has presented itself in Papua—the cultivation of sugar cane.

When, some time ago, an application was received for a large area of land at Sangara, in the Northern Division, which it was intended to develop as a sugar plantation, those engaged in the sugar industry in Australia were much perturbed; but in reply to questions in the Federal Parliament it was stated by the Government that the sugar grown in Papua would not be allowed to come into competition with the Aus tralian product.

On this subject, the Lieutenant-Gov ernor says in his last report: “Papua, or some part of the island of New Guinea is, I understand, thought to be the original home of the sugar cane.

Some of the best cane grown in Queensland came from Papua, and during the year under review an Ameri can expedition came to the territory with the object, which I believe they achieved, of finding a type of cane which would resist certain forms of disease.

“The land selected at Sangara is said to be very suitable for sugar, and as labour should be readily available the plantation ought to succeed.

“Some apprehension was expressed in the Commonwealth lest the cultivation of sugar in Papua might affect the in dustry in Queensland, but such fears are without foundation. The Papuan sugar will not be exported to Australia; the import duty would make that im possible.

“It will be sold in the markets of the world and there is ground for con fident hope that our advantages of climate, soil, rainfall and labour will enable Papuan planters to compete successfully against producers in any other country.”