Papuan Rubber.

Planters’ Representatives Confer With Manufacturers.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, Jan. 17.

His Excellency, Sir Hubert

MURRAY, returned to Port Mores by on January 11 from the Eastern Division, interrupting his journey to at tend a meeting of rubber planters in Pt.

Moresby.

In December the rubber manufac turers of Australia announced their de cision to cease buying- Papuan rubber as a protest against the import duty of 4d. per lb. on all raw rubber, other than Papuan, entering the Commonwealth.

A radio was sent at the time by Sir Hubert Murray to the Prime Minister at Canberra, drawing- attention to the fact that the rubber manufacturers were try ing to force the Commonwealth to re move the duty. A request to render the boycott harmless was also added and sug-g-estions were offered, if desired, by the Administration and the rubber planters.

The Prime Minister wired on January 5, asking- for suggestions. A meeting was held by the rubber planters in the pre sence of His Excellency and it was de cided that both the Hon. E. C. Harris, Treasurer to the Papuan Government and Hon. Arthur Jewell, non-Official Member of the Executive and Legislative Council, would go down to get in touch with the rubber manufacturers and the authorities at Canberra. Messrs. Harris and Jewell left for Australia by the “Macdhui” on January 18.

A conference between Messrs, Harris and Jewell, representing the Papuan Ad ministration and rubber growers on the one hand, and representatives of Aus tralian rubber manufacturers on the other, took place in Melbourne early this month.

The discussions —contrary to expecta tions —were not of a hostile character.

There were frank explanations from both sides and an appreciation by each of the other’s special difficulties. As a consequence, progress was made towards formulating a scheme which, while giv ing some substantial relief to the rubber manufacturers, will also protect the Papuan growers.

Details of the scheme are now under consideration by the various interests concerned.

An important aspect of the problem is the fact that the Federal Government has reaped an unexpected revenue ap proaching £500,000 per annum from the duty on raw rubber; and the Federal Government naturally is not eager to sacrifice this sweet morsel.

The fact that the rubber consumers of Australia, and the rubber manufacturers are being taxed to the extent of nearly £500,000 p.a. is not, of course, a matter of great concern to the Government.