Papuan Co. to Exploit
p. 13 · Read in the full issue
Kapok Planting.
Papuan Co. to Exploit Australian Market.
A company is being organised, called Ceiba Plantations Ltd., to under take kapok planting on an exten sive scale in Papua.
It is proposed to take over a con siderable area of leasehold land lying between Brown River and Laloki River, twelve miles from Port Moresby, and plant kapok trees, which take about six years to mature. During the growing period it is proposed to plant cover crops—particularly castor oil seeds and Mauritius beans.
The organiser and manager of the enterprise is Mr. K. G. Leydin, who has had experience of tropical agriculture.
Mr. George Murray, tropical agricul tural expert, has advised the company that he regards the area as eminently suitable for kapok growing.
The possibilities of kapok production in Papua and New Guinea for the Aus tralian market are very great. Aus tralia’s requirements at present come from Java and a Sydney importer re cently told us that the present ex change position imposes on these goods a tax of fully 100 per cent. Kapok produced in Papua or New Guinea would escape this burden, and further more, would receive a Federal bounty equal to 2d. per lb. (£18per ton).