Copra Substitutes.
p. 37 · Read in the full issue
Fiji Planters’ Request.
THE increasing use of soya beans as a substitute for copra by manufac turers in England is a matter for alarm in all copra producing countries.
The following letter, a copy of which was sent us by the Coconut Planters Union Ltd. of Fiji is addressed by the Union to the Fiji Government asking that it takes every step to induce English manufacturers to discontinue the substitution of soya bean oil, which is largely a product of Manchuria, for coconut oil.
The Hon. The Colonial Secretary, Suva.
Sir, —We request that the Fiji Gov ernment make representations to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in regard to the increasing importation of soya beans into the United Kingdom.
When the principle was adopted of encouraging trade with the Colonies by means of protective duties, we under stand that a duty of 10 per cent, was imposed upon soya beans, not the product of the British Empire. It is believed that upon representations being subsequently made by the National Seed Crushers’ Association of Great Britain this duty was lifted and soya beans were then admitted free of duty irrespective of the country of origin. The following statistics of im ports into the United Kingdom which are taken from a Review of the Oil and Fat Markets in 1932, issued by Faure Flattman & Co., illustrate what hap pened:— 1930. 1931. 1932.
Tons. Tons. Tons.
Copra 81,859 93,429 98,340 Soya beans .. 91,309 110,300 .158,935 It will be seen that the imports of copra increased by 5 per cent, in 1932, as compared with 1931, but on the other hand, imports of soya beans increased by no less than 44 per cent. An import duty of 10 per cent, still exists on soya bean oil, but this has not affected im portations to any extent, as will be seen by the under-noted figures of imports obtained from the same source. 1930. 1931. 1932. 25,299 tons 27,850 tons 27,343 tons On the other hand unrefined coconut oil has suffered severely — 1930. 1931. 1932. 32,588 tons 32,239 tons 16,840 tons Soya beans and soya bean oil are largely the product of Manchuria and Korea. The total shipments from Manchuria from Ist November, 1931, to 31st October, 1932, were: Soya beans, 2,191,500 tons; soya bean oil, 118,929 tons; in addition it is estimated that America shipped over 100,000 tons of soya beans to Europe.
It appears to us contrary to the principles enunciated at the Ottawa Conference not to attempt to divert this particular section of the oil seeds trade towards British Empire sources.
We would point out that coconut oil and soya bean oil are interchangeable, whilst copra cake is at least equally useful as a feeding stuff as soya bean cake.
As coconut planters of Fiji in effect tax themselves in favor of goods the produce of the British Empire (by reason of the tariff preference on British Empire goods) we therefore re quest your Government to ask the
Secretary of State for the Colonies to remedy the position with a view to obtaining a greater reciprocity.
We have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servants,