Copra Export Tax

Revision Still Under Consideration

Canberra, July 14.

EARLY in June, when the London price of copra fell to the unpre cedented figure of £10/5/- per ton, the planters of New Guinea made the most urgent application to the Aus tralian Government authorities that the export duty on copra of 15/- per ton be reduced to a merely nominal rate.

They also suggested that the Ad ministration recoup itself for this loss to revenue by imposing extra Customs duties, so that the tremendously heavy burden imposed on New Guinea by the slump in copra might be borne by the whole community, and not by the copra-producers alone. It was hoped that the Government would take prompt action to meet the extremely serious position.

The Government, however, would not be hurried. The whole matter was referred back to the Administrator of the Mandated Territory and, appar ently, left entirely in his hands. Appli cation at official headquarters in Can berra brought the reply that “the ap plication for relief from the copra ex port tax will be considered in connec tion with the Estimates from New Guinea, which have not yet been re ceived.”

It is understood that the sugges tion in regard to higher Customs dut ies will be considered at the same time.

Owing to the recovery in the price of copra, recorded in the early part of July, it is probable that the Gov ernment authorities will now try to avoid altogether any vital change in administrative policy, which would be involved in altering the source of rev enue from an export tax to a Customs tax on imports. Unless the price of copra again falls back seriously, it is likely that the Government will try to retain the export tax —although it is possible that the amount (15/- per ton) will be revised. A good deal de pends upon whether the London quo tation returns to the April level, or again shows an inclination to slump.