Mauritius Beans

Papuan Product May Find Market in Australia

THE successful cultivation of Maur itius beans in Papua has caused inquiries to be made as to the market available for this product in Australia.

The Commonwealth at present imports the bean mainly from the island of Mauritius and from Fiji.

The chief use of the bean is for growing on sugar plantations, for green manuring purposes. The seeds are sown, and when the plant grows, it is ploughed into the ground, where it decomposes, thus preparing the soil for the planting of the cane. Although the bean grows in Australia for cropping purposes, it will not mature, so fresh supplies of seed have to be constantly obtained from abroad.

Imports of Mauritius beans, through the port of Sydney, for the year ended June 30, 1931, were valued at £483.

The imports through Queensland ports, in the same period were;

The beans enter Australia free of duty and primage, under the heading of “unspecified articles,” but they are subject to a sales tax of 6 per cent.

Besides the Queensland market for this bean, it is thought that a market might be also found on the banana plantations on the North Coast of New South Wales.

It appears that at present some plan ters throughout New South Wales and Queensland use cow-peas, which will mature in Australia, for green manur ing on many of their properties. They probably would have to be satisfied that they were obtaining a bigger ton nage to the acre and a superior man ure before they would turn exclusively to Mauritius beans. If the Common wealth Government were convinced that Papua could supply the existing needs in Australia, it seems likely that some preference might be granted, in order to exclude shipments from else where.

Another bean which grows in Papua, being originally imported from Java, is the Kratok or Java bean (Phaseolus lunatus). This bean is grown exten sively in Java for green manuring and is considered nearly equal to the Maur itius variety.

What is known as the rice bean is a third species, which would grow well in the tropics. It is quite as good as the Mauritius for manuring purposes, and, like the Mauritius, the bean, when ground up, makes a nutritious food for stock.

Another variety of bean, which might be tried in the Islands, is the flower bean, which is grown on a com mercial scale in Manchuria, and is used for food as well as for grinding into face powder.

From From From N.

Papua.

Fiji. Guinea.

Brisbane .. £122 £280 — Mackay .. .. — £121 — Townsville .. — £1,022 — Cairns .. .. .. £659 £527 £132