The Solomon Islands

From Our Own Correspondent.

IMPORTS continue to fall off and this last trip the Mataram arrived with the Plim soll mark about 5 or 6 feet above water.

Partly by way of taking up the slack of import revenue, the Government has reim posed, as from April 1, 5/- of the lately lifted 12/6 per ton export duty on copra. We understand that in future it is to be on a sliding scale and will be raised as the market appreciates.

A “luxury” tax (or so it would seem) has also been introduced, taking effect on goods brought in by this last Mataram, on wines, spirits, certain soft drinks and tobaccos.

While one can hardly take exception to extra duties on “luxuries.” we feel that, as tobacco is specially mentioned in the scale of compulsory rations to native labour, it is hardly a fair thing to the already overburdened producer to ask him to bear the brunt of an extra 9d., making 2/9 per lb. duty, on top of the recently increased invoice cost which was brought about by the soaring exchange rate.

We cannot impress too plainly upon the authorities that the planter is in a most precarious position. He has no reserves to fall back upon. His original estimates of the cost of bringing his plantation into bearing (made in the days of ignorance) have so fallen short of the actual figure that in most in stances he has had to go almost hopelessly into debt in order to complete the business.

It follows that he can now only carry on by the courtesy of his creditors. In other words, he is “on the dole”; and as at least one creditor has already circularised him to the effect that there is a limit to credit, he feels anything but happy about it. Extra

taxation under these circumstances savours all too painfully of attempting to lighten the poor old camel’s burden by heaping on a bale of wool as a pad. The Planters and Commer cial Association has taken up the matter of "ration” tobacco, and asked that it be deleted from the compulsory scale.

Two or three “retrenchments” have taken place in Government circles. Though one hesitates to suggest it, circumstances make it a case of “needs must,” in that more will have to follow, or other means found to lessen the cost of administration.

At the last Planters and Commercial Associ at on meeting an attempt was made to intro duce a little organisation into the matter of returning time-expired labourers to their homes, with a view of reducing costs. The meeting was not well attended and, to make matters worse, half of those present were not directly and personally interested, insofar as they were in a position to return their own labour. Nothing definite was done and poor old "Planter,” who is forced to depend on others, has to go on paying prices that were fixed when copra was about five times more valuable than it is to-day, and benzine, rice and other necessary commodities which are used in connection with this business, were one-half or one-third of present prices.

The import of phosphorous matches has been prohibited, as from March 1. Rumour has it that it was because head-hunting Mal aita-men used them for the purpose of firing their muzzle-loaders, but this is absurd. Any how, they will not be missed, as “safeties” are now almost entirely used owing to their standing the climate better. Years ago, wax vestas had the entire running.

Rumour also has it that stringent regula tions are to be instituted to prevent the arrival of a certain rhinoceros-beetle from other shores. Our own brand does not ap pear to do a great deal of damage, but apparently this is not the case elsewhere.