Alternative Islands Crops

Some Further Information

World Markets For Various Oil-Seeds

There is a keen interest among planters throughout the South Seas in the subject of planting new, quickly-maturing crops which will give them an alternative income when the demand for their staple products falls away. Many inquiries for reliable information about these crops have been received, and the following article has been prepared.

THE three most promising crops are castor seeds, sesame plants and tung oil plants. Each of these produces an oil much in demand on the world’s markets.

Castor Oil.

Particulars of castor oil, which provides a valuable lubricant, were given in our issue of September, 1931. Since then, inquiries have been received as to what market exists for this oil in Australia.

The Statistical Register of the Commonwealth Government shows that in 1929-30, over £23,000 worth of the oil was imported. Details were as follows :— ... From ... Gallons. ... Value.

Britain ... 31,644 ... £7,424 India ... 23,300 ... 4,162 France ... 31,915 ... 7,922

U.S.A. ... 15,923 ... 4,737

Besides this oil, castor seeds were imported from India and Java and crushed at a mill, which has been established in Melbourne. The average price of the oil in Australia at present is 5/9 per gallon.

Not only does Australia provide a big market, but, by reason of the fact that it would be produced by cheap native labour in the Islands, it could doubtless favourably compete with the products of other countries on the world’s markets.

Castor seeds, c.i.f. London, were lately quoted by London merchants at about £10/15/- per ton. This price probably has improved since the alteration of the exchanges.

Messrs. Abel Lemon & Co. Pty. Ltd., of Sydney, are prepared to handle shipments of seeds from the Islands.

Sesame Or Gingelly Oil.

Sesame, which was dealt with in our July, 19 31, issue, is a hardy an nual plant. The oil crushed from the seeds comes under the liquid oil class and thus competes with peanut and cottonseed oil.

Inquiries made in Sydney show that there is a very poor chance of a market being obtained in the Commonwealth for this oil. Prior to the war, it was used very extensively here for margarine manufacture. In fact, the Pure Foods Act here, as elsewhere, stipulated that 5 per cent, of sesame had to be used in margarine as a “chemical indicator” —that is, in order to give margarine a distinct colour, so that it could be easily distinguished from butter. During the war sesame oil was unobtainable in Australia and a substitute became necessary.

Queensland arrowroot was allowed, and now this has completely displaced sesame in Australia as an essential constituent of margarine.

For liquid oil supplies, Australia is catered for mainly by cottonseed oil and to a lesser degree by peanut oil.

Cottonseed is marketed by the Queensland Cotton Board. In a fair average season, there is just about sufficient for the market, and in a bumper season the market is flooded.

In the last two or three years, only a very small quantity of sesame has been imported—it is not actually enumerated among the imports into Australia.

An Australian authority on oils states that he would not recommend the growing of sesame in the Islands, if it was only with the idea of supplying the Australian market.

However, a leading technical oil man, in touch with the markets of the world, considers sesame in altogether a different light. He is of the opinion that a world market awaits

it. There is a big demand for it in Europe, and the price of the oil at present is about £38 per ton. It is in much demand by the margarine manufacturers, as in most European factories it is still used as an essential constituent for the colouring purposes previously mentioned Comparing castor seeds and sesame as potential crops, it therefore appears as if castor is preferable, be cause a market nearer at hand is assured, whereas sesame would have to find a market overseas. India is practically the main source of supply of both seeds at present.

Results Of Tung Oil

Experiments

As anticipated by this journal the Fordii variety of the tung oil plant is not proving successful in the Pacific Islands. Experiments are now proceeding with the Montana variety, which does not produce the same quantity of this valuable oil; but it is thought that this plant will be better suited to Pacific conditions. Even tually, it is hoped that by grafting the two varieties, a plant suitable for Islands cultivation will be obtained and that this will be a better producer than Montana, and nearly equal to the Fordii.

Disappointment will be no doubt felt at the failure of Fordii in the groups where it has been tried, but it must be remembered that the home of the Fordii is in the great Yangtze Valley of China, over 35 degrees north of the equator, where, to quote The Pacific Islands Monthly of April, 1931, “the summers are warm enough for such crops as rice and giant millet, while wheat is grown in the cold weather when slight frost and snow may occur on high ground.”

The Montana grows in the region from the province of Chekiang, in the south-east, to Tonkin, and it is also grown in the Shan States of Burma.

This is an area which, in its distance from the equator, approximates that of the Pacific Islands, being about 10 degrees north of the line.

To reach an equal distance south of the equator to the Yangtze Valley for the successful cultivation of the Fordii, one must go as far south as, say, Sydney. This argument is substantiated by the report that the large plantation of Fordii plants, on the Johnstone River, Queensland, is not making the progress that was anticipated. Again, the efforts of tung oil companies in New Zealand, Auckland province, to be precise, give every promise of being successful ventures.

Here is a case of Fordii thriving well south of 35 degrees. Florida, U.S.A., where there are big Fordii plantations, is about 30 degrees north.

It is now a matter of waiting on results of Montana experiments and seeing what the scientists can then suggest in order to secure a better oil.

Meanwhile, a world market is available for tung oil, which is in growing demand as a paint ingredient. Imports into Australia alone for 1929-30 show that 139,967 gallons were imported, valued at £40,205. Of this China supplied £39,132 worth and Japan £751.

The price of tung oil in London in 1930 was £69/10/- per ton. It maintained this price for 12 months.

Desiccated Coconut.

The Australian market for desiccated coconut is now supplied exclusively by New Guinea and Papua. This

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on imports from other countries as from March 3, 1931.

Previous to this, Ceylon was the largest supplier of desiccated coconut to Australia, the 1929-30 figures showing that Ceylon supplied 1,553,335 lbs., of a value of £51,897.

The total value imported for the year was £105,796. Of this Papua supplied £40,735 worth and New Guinea £11,738. Since then, with the impetus provided by the Commonwealth Government, this industry has progressed rapidly. Plants are now operating at Lindenhafen, Pondo and Finschafen in New Guinea, and at Giligili, Galley Reach and Ahioma, Papua.

As the output increases new markets are being sought. It was thought that Canada might provide a new market, especially in view of the recent Australian-Canadian Trade Treaty. However, inquiries made of the Canadian Government Agent show that there is nothing in the Treaty applying to desiccated coconut.

Desiccated coconut, sweetened or not, from the Pacific Islands, is only provided for under the British Preference Tariff, the duty under this classification being 5 cents, per lb.

The general duty is 6 cents per lb.

The Canadian market is mainly supplied by Ceylon. Imports for 1929, under the various groupings for desiccated coconuts were: Sweetened or not, 2,106,825 lbs., of which 2,018,613 lbs. came from Ceylon.

Unsweetened, 174,025 lbs., all from Ceylon and Straits Settlements.

N.O.P., 53,426 lbs., all from Ceylon.

Coffee.

The coffee growing industry has been little exploited in the British Islands, although, of late, definite steps have been taken to carry out planting on a commercial basis. Good grades of coffee have been produced.

The market price at present is about £39 per ton, c.i.f., Sydney, for Java coffee.

Messrs. Abel Lemon & Co., Sydney, are prepared to handle shipments for planters Altogether, Australia during 1929- 30 imported coffee to the value of £186,557. Of this, only £379 worth came from the Islands, being made up as follows: ... Lbs. ... Value.

New Caledonia ... 1,815 ... £ 90 Papua ... 9,408 ... 283 New Guinea ... 13 ... 1

The bulk of Australia’s supplies came from the Dutch East Indies and India.

Cocoa Beans.

Australia provides a good market for cocoa beans. The price for the beans at present is about £32 per ton f.o.b. Sydney.

In the year 1929-30, Australia imported cocoa to the value of £256,769.

British West Africa supplied £88,000 worth and the West Indies £74,000.

Although a fine quality cocoa is produced in the Pacific Islands, these groups contributed only £17,000 worth to the total Australian importation for the year. The Pacific figures were as follows: ... Lbs. ... Value.

New Hebrides ... 594,466 ... £ 13,216 New Guinea ... 169,437 ... 3,844 Other Pacific Islands—

Western Samoa, where much cocoa is grown, does not figure at all among the supplying countries.

Green Ginger.

There is only a very small market in Australia for green ginger. In 1929-30, it was supplied exclusively by China, which country exported to Australia 100,285 lbs., of a value of £1,711. Ginger from China is subject to 1d. per lb. duty. Ginger imported to Australia from Papua or New Guinea is allowed in duty free.

Peanuts.

Peanuts are a prohibited import into Australia, even from Australia’s Island Territories —New Guinea and Papua. Peanuts are now grown extensively in Queensland.

Therefore, other outlets would have to be found for crops from the Islands. Canada suggests itself, for in 1929 this Dominion imported 354,051 dollars worth. China and United States supplied the majority of these peanuts.

Since that year, the Australian- Canadian trade treaty came into force, carrying definite preference for the Australian product. The exact text of the clause under the treaty is as follows: 109a — green, in the shell or not further processed than shelled —free (that is, free if coming from Australia).

The Canadian Governor-in-Council, when satisfied Australia can supply Canada’s requirements, may, by Order-in-Council, direct that there be substituted for tariff item 109a in Schedule A of Customs Tariff, 1907, and the enumeration of goods and the rates of duties of customs set

opposite the said item in Schedule A, the following : 109b —Peanuts, green, in the shell or not further processed than shelled —free.

British preference tariff: 4 cents per lb.

Intermediate tariff: 4 cents per lb.

General tariff: 4 cents per lb.

From and after the publication of such Order-in-Council in “The Canadian Gazette,” tariff item 109a as it appears in the said schedule at the time of the publication of the said order shall be repealed and the provisions of tariff item 109b shall be substituted therefor.

Apparently, this means Australia will have 4 cents per lb. preference over peanuts from other countries.

Australia's Preference

Tariff.

The following produce from New Guinea and Papua is allowed into Australia duty free under a preference tariff brought into effect in 1926: Coffee, raw and kiln dried.

Fruits, viz., Chicomamey, Litchie, Longan, Akee, Pulasam, Rambutam, Avocado, Mangosteen, Sapote, Sapodilla, Abiu, Starapple, Langsat, Imbui, llama, Durian, Jaboticaba, Grumichana, Kao pan, seedless Pummelo, and Jack fruit.

Fungi edible.

Ginger, green.

Grain and pulse, viz., Rangoon beans.

Nuts, viz,, Coconuts, whole.

Coconuts, prepared.

Coconuts, shelled or unshelled.

Seeds, viz., Kapok and sesame.

South Seas planters, contemplating the shipment of any kind of oil-bearing products to the London market, and desiring first-hand information regarding the market, could write to any of the leading agents there who handle oil-seeds. The following are two addresses: L. M. Fischel & Co. (1931) Ltd., 36 Mincing Lane, London, E.C.3, England.

Faure, Blattman & Co. Ltd., Holland House, Bury Street, London, E.C.3, England. ... === ...

The expenditure on education by the Fiji Government for 1930 amounted to £46,838. Prior to 1915, it amounted to only £3,000, and since then it has gradually increased to its present figure. ... === ...