Papua’S Trade.
p. 34 · Read in the full issue
Chief Items of Production.
From Our Own Correspondent
Port Moresby, Oct. 20.
AN interesting line on the trend of this Territory’s trade can be obtained from a study of the export figures.
The Montoro, sailing for Sydney on October 4, loaded the following pro duce; — 1164 packages of rubber. 651 cases of desiccated coconut. 30 bags of Mauritus beans. 147 bags of copra. 55 bags of coffee.
The growth in the production of Mauritius beans is significant. This vegetable is required for sowing, as a green fertiliser, on the sugar and ban ana plantations in Queensland; and Queensland seems now to be getting a cheaper or better article from Papua than from Fiji, which formerly sup plied all requirements.
The Customs revenue collected in Papua during August totalled £4115 — of which about 20 per cent, is primage, the balance being import duties. Port Moresby contributed £2,224; Samarai, £1,860; Daru, £25; and Woodlark, £5.
In September, Port Moresby collected £967, Daru £47, and Woodlark £180.