Papuan News

Further Reduction in Plantation Costs Local Timber Now Popular Many Provision Orders Going to Sydney

From Our Own Correspondent

PT. MORESBY, February 10.

THIS month there is little to report on copra and rubber.

The London price for copra has been £14/12/6, which, with most plantations, means selling at a loss. Rubber has again fallen to 35d. per lb, and even the 4d. duty added to this price does not make it sufficient to make things pay.

Further economies have been made everywhere, amounting to almost par simony, so as to enable the planta tions to be run at lowest costs.

Nothing much is heard of hemp and sugar, two new 1 enterprises; either they are lying low, awaiting more prosper ous days, or the tidal wave of depres sion has drawn them, too, into its depth.

Experiments With Millet.

Millet is being tried by a couple of young men a few miles out of Port Moresby, by the Laloki River. Little is known of their venture, though it is reported that they are progressing, in spite of many hardships. They are selling some grain locally, besides packing the straw for south, and ex cept for their execrably rough bush cooks, finding life rather incongruously amusing which, after all, is more than people do here.

Activities Of Port Romilly

Sawmills.

The only sawmill company in Papua, the Port Romilly Sawmills Ltd., has gone into voluntary liquidation. It is reported that this was done not so much from financial necessity as to provide protection from other firms attempting to absorb it. It has now a working agreement with the Steam ship Trading Co. Ltd.

These two companies stand out in Papua as being built up from small be ginnings, and as having progressed in spite of every kind of difficulty, and without reserve capital upon which to draw during their early struggles.

The Steamship Trading Co. is one of

the soundest concerns in Papua finan cially, and its volume of business in creases steadily, while Port Romilly Sawmills Ltd. has gradually overcome the local prejudice against Papuan tim ber, and has increased its turnover and widened its market year by year.

The arrangement between the two firms is likely to be of advantage to both and of benefit to the whole of Papua.

Householders Economising.

All householders in Port Moresby are economising to their utmost and find in most cases, that they simply cannot afford to patronise the local stores.

There is no ill-feeling about it—it is sheer necessity, as they find that it is possible to live so much cheaper by ordering their groceries from south.

Many hundreds of pounds go in orders by every boat to Sydney retail establishments. The local firms should realise the position clearly before their trade has slipped from their hands, for the goods from Sydney arrive well packed and in good condition, and far below the prices in Port Moresby.

Life itself in Port has been very quiet and subdued, a lot of sickness and, in some cases, unhappiness, have occur red, owing to the weather, the heat and the bad times. The news from Aus tralia is hardly reassuring to people who live so far from its centre, and who are dependent on its movements and whims.

His Excellency Leaves For

Canberra.

His Excellency the Lieutenant-Gov ernor, Sir Hubert Murray, K.C.M.G., is leaving by this Morinda for Canberra, to discuss affairs with the Ministers and departmental officers. His Excel lency’s intention is to be away only for a short time.

His Excellency and the heads of the different Government departments have had a very difficult task steering the country through these troublesome timee.