Copra Profits

Papuan Planter Ridicules N.G.

Planter’s Estimate of £3/5/-

Per Ton.

To the Editor.

Sir, —In your March issue you have an article on “Copra Profits,” from someone in New Guinea, who says he employs about 40 boys, and can turn out copra, landed in Rabaul, for £3/5/ per ton.

As a subscriber to your paper, would it be too much trouble to ask you for the following information: How he can manage to recruit 40 natives, at the cost of nothing? This is important, as I recruit all my own labour, and I only pay the boys when I recruit them 3/- each. Kerosene, boat, etc., cost me about £70 for the re cruiting trip (30 boys).

How does he manage to run the place without it costing anything for weeding and keeping clean? I have to clean my place up about three times a year, with 40 boys, and it takes about five weeks. A boy costs me about 9d. a day.

This is the most important question, and you will oblige me if you can get our plantation friend from New Guinea to answer it; The name of the philan thropic firm which supplies him with axes for breaking nuts (unless he breaks the nuts on rocks), copra knives, scrub knives, mattocks, etc., free. This is a big item on a plantation.

Of course, I understand he might not use the above articles. Ask him if he digs the meat out of the nuts with sharp-pointed sticks. Ask him if he can supply me with a manager who will work for no wages.

Does he never give his labour any medicine? Drugs cost me about £25 per annum.

I have been running my own plantation for 20 years, and anyone who says that he can turn out copra for £3/5/ per ton, including 25/- per ton for freight, should be a star boarder in Callan Park. Anyone who runs a coconut plantation, reading the article, can only come to one conclusion —that is, that the writer did not know what he was talking about, I am, etc., Samarai, Papua.

EDITORIAL NOTE : We are glad to publish our correspondent’s comments, particularly be cause —as we indicated at the time—the New Guinea planter’s figures were open to challenge.

Unfortunately, the signature of our correspond ent—like that of many great men—is inde cipherable, so we have left it out.