Java Pest
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Official Reply and Explanation Puzzling Export Figures
HAVING communicated with the Government Department of Agri culture in Java, the Sydney office of the Royal Packet Navigation Co. (Hol land) which is interested in the steam ship service between Java and New Guinea, challenges the accuracy of articles in our November and December issues about the danger of a coconut pest spreading from Java to New Guinea.
This journal urged that strict pre cautions be taken against the danger of the pest being conveyed from Java in cargo.
The letter from the Java Department of Agriculture, dated 26th January, is quoted: “The Pacific Islands Monthly, when speaking about an insect pest in coco nuts, refers in all probability to ‘Brach artona,’ of which there occurred a few light cases in Java during 1930.
“However, this infection is well under control and methods to check it are invariably effective.
“The Pacific Monthly states that this pest has not actually been combated for a long time, and further that ‘the Dutch entomologists have found noth ing as yet to check it.’ Both statements are untrue, as we repeat this pest is of very small importance.
“The reason why the export of copra during 1930 was only 10 per cent, of the quantity exported during 1929 must not be found in a shortage of production, but entirely adverse market conditions, which induced growers to dispose of their coconuts on the local market.
“We think that only if infected coco nuts were shipped in their green husks, or else if green palms were transported there might be a possibility of convey ing ‘Brachartona’ from one place to another. However, we are given assur ance that the steamer engaged in the Java-Port Moresby-Rabaul trade does not carry any such coconuts or palms, and, in our opinion, it is impossible to convey these insects in ordinary mer chandise.
“Provided the interests concerned prohibit the import of green coconuts or green palms, there need exist no fear that ‘Brachartona’ is introduced into their territories.
“During 1930 no other coconut pests occurred in Java.”
The returns issued by Faure Blatt man & Co., London, show that Java, in 1929, exported 101,818 tons of copra (or coconut oil converted to terms of copra); and in the same period of 1930 the total was 31,441 tons. Of copra, apart from coconut oil, the exports were 58,888 tons in 1929 and 7,364 tons in 1930. That enormous decrease in output is not shown by any other country which exports copra in quan tity. If growers had, to an increasing degree, disposed of their products loc ally, the export of coconut oil should have increased. Instead, it declined from 48 930 tons in 1929, to 24,077 in