Embargo on Foreign Imports

Desiccated Coconut

Helping Islands Trade

From Our Canberra Correspondent CANBERRA, April 13.

THE prohibition of the importation of desiccated coconut into the Commonwealth, except from its island territories, is a matter of very great importance, as the trade is worth about £120,000 a year.

Commonwealth requirements amount to something between 2,000 and 2,500 tons annually—mostly for the confectionery trade. In the year 1928-29, the importations totalled 2,484 tons, valued at £118,330. Of this amount 282 tons were supplied by Papua and 53 tons by the New Guinea territory, the balance being imported from countries which are now debarred from export ing to Australia.

There was a duty of 3d. per pound, but an exemption was granted in the case of Ceylon, that country being allowed to send us up to 25 per cent. of our requirements. But, as from March 3, Ceylon, along with other countries, has been made subject to the embargo, as the Federal Government is now convinced that the Islands are capable of providing all Australia’s requirements In 1929, four Cingalese were brought to Port Moresby to advise in regard to the preparation of the desiccated nut, a special plant for the purpose having been established at Galley Reach, in the Central Division, some 40 miles from Port Moresby. It was reported in The Pacific Islands Monthly of September last that desiccated coconut plants were then operating in Lindenhafen, Pondo and Fichhafen, in New Guinea; and at Giligili and Ahioma, in Milne Bay, Papua.