Papuan Rubber.
p. 45 · Read in the full issue
Serious Position.
FEARING that the Papuan rubber in dustry will cease very soon, if some thing is not done immediately to assist planters, a deputation approached the Minister in Charge of Islands’ Terri tories (Major C. W. C. Marr), when he was passing through Port Moresby by the "Macdhui” on March 4.
The deputation stressed the point that unless the Commonwealth Government immediately paid planters a refund of the Customs duty of 4d. per lb., the in dustry would be bankrupt and would have to close down.
Previously Papuan rubber was admit ted to the Commonwealth duty free; but, under the customs schedule of March, it was agreed that the Commonwealth would pay back to planters the duty im posed by the schedule on Papuan rubber which costs up to 8d. per lb. to produce.
The deputation complained that the rub ber shipped by Papuan growers to Aus
tralia was kept in bond by the manu facturers, so that the Commonwealth had not collected any duty, and, there fore, the planters were unpaid.
After promising favourable considera tion of the request, Major Marr com municated by wireless with Canberra.
The amount of duty outstanding on Papuan rubber held in Australia is about £20,000.