Unilever, Ltd.

Monstrous Combine Is Sitting on Top of Copra Industry.

IT was noted some months ago that the criticism had been made in Syd ney that although Great Britain, in her new tariff, had imposed a duty of ten per cent, against foreign copra (which meant a preference of ten per cent, for copra grown within the Em pire) the copra-growers in the South Seas, at any rate, had not received any benefit.

The suggestion clearly was that whatever benefit had been conferred on British growers had been secured by the Copra Trust.

The matter received the attention of the Federal Government which has formally explained that, as the Empire produces far more copra than is im ported into Britain, all copra growers cannot receive a benefit; and it fol lows that there is no need for the chief buyer of copra (Unilever Ltd.) to purchase requirements in the British market. The copra may be bought out side of Britain for use in European countries and no necessity is imposed on Unilever Ltd. to pay a customs duty.

The Federal Government’s reply as an explanation of a real grievance is absurd. The fact of the matter is that Unilever Ltd. is completely in command of the situation and can snap its fingers at copra growers, British Gov ernment and everyone else. If only a limited proportion of British copra pro duction enters England, that is the de liberate work of Unilever Ltd., and no one else. It is a well known fact that when this monstrous, soulless combine was formed, it deliberately closed scores of British crushing mills, in order that, for its own profit-taking purposes, it might send its copra to the various Continental mills which it now controls.

Before Unilever Ltd. got control, a very large proportion of the Empire’s copra was taken to London for sale and was distributed from there; and a huge quantity was milled In England.

To-day there are scores of British mills idle, thousands of millhands unem ployed and dozens of copra-brokers’ offices closed in London —all in order that this combine may secure cheaper production and bigger profits by operating on the Continent.

In similar manner, Unilever, Ltd., having destroyed every competitor, pays to copra producers exactly what it wishes. That position will be con tinued as long as this combine is in command of the situation. The only way in which the thing can be con trolled is by inter-governmental action, and that is not likely until the ruin of the coconut-planting industry (brought about by Unilever, Ltd., sucking the life-blood out of coconut planting) forces the Governments concerned to take special action. Copra, at the moment of this writing, is down to £13 per ton, c.i.f., London. Need any more be said?

The argument that because the Em pire produces more copra than is sold within the Empire, the industry is not entitled to special assistance, is absurd.

Manchester produces far more cotton

goods than the Empire can buy, but the Manchester industry is still protected.

The same applies to Sheffield steel.

Much has been heard about the new spirit of hope flowing from the Ottawa Agreement. The treatment of the copra industry by Britain —or, rather, the manner in which Britain allows Uni lever, Ltd., to treat the copra industry— is certainly not in accord with the spirit of Ottawa.