Copra: All the Eggs in One Basket

MOST people carry all their eggs in one basket, in spite of the ancient adage, which suggests that wise owners of eggs will provide two containers, so that when one suffers a fall the eggs in the other one may be intact.

Coconut planters, like most people, have had all their eggs in one basket. The copra market has crashed in a manner without precedent in recorded history, and the planter, in consequence, is rather desperately “up against it”. Mr. Wise-after-the event, of course, is scolding, and assuring the harassed planter that he should have used his plan tation to grow som'ething as an alternative to copra.

It is just as well we cannot hear the retort of the average planter.

For two years the planters, being intelligent men, have been looking about for quick-growing crops that will give them some sort of dependable revenue, pending the uncertain recovery of the copra market.

All sorts of things are being tried, and it is interest ing to make a survey of these efforts.

A recent arrival from the Solomons informs us of several experiments. Mr. S. Marks, at Gizo, and Messrs. McLeod, Bolton & Co., of Malaita, have planted considerable areas in kapok, and some other

planters are seeking all available information about this commodity. We are informed that the produc tion of kapok is being undertaken, also, on a fairly large scale, in Papua, A year or two ago there was much interest being shown in tung oil production—this commodity being much and increasingly in demand for aeroplane building and in connection with fine furniture work.

We have not heard much of it lately, although an excellent market is still there. The consensus of evidence is that the tung oil variety known as “Fordii”, which ordinarily bears well, while it grows prolifically in the South Sea Islands in its young stages, dies away when it reaches the stage at which production should commence; and that the less prolific variety, “Montana,” is more likely to do well in the Islands. We have not recently heard the result of the various experiments that were being made, and our readers probably would be glad of further information. It is reported that the Malaita Company has planted out a few acres with tung oil trees in Malaita, B.S.I.

Many planters, in recent months, have shown a sharp interest in the cultivation of castor oil seed, for which it is said there is a constant and profitable

market. Several New Guinea men have decided to try out this quick-growing crop. Some interesting information about castor oil seed is given elsewhere in this issue by Mr. Bruce, formerly a planter in the Solomon Islands.

Some of the Roman Catholic fathers, at Solomon Islands mission stations, are growing cocoa, and the crop promises well. Cocoa is being grown, also, on a few New Guinea plantations. The main problem is that of finding a regular market. The average planter knows not where to turn for a buyer.

Coffee cannot very well be called a suitable alter native or secondary to coconuts—its cultivation is more of a full-time job. It is receiving a certain amount of attention, however. The Administrator of New Guinea reports that three or four concerns have commenced growing coffee in that Territory, with excellent results so far as the horticulture side is concerned.

The fact of the matter is that planters, under present conditions, are quite prepared to do and try anything, if they can get any reasonable assurance of a market for their produce. That is the crux of the present problem. One hears that kapok, or tung oil, or kapok, or something, is a “profitable’ ’ crop, giving a quick return, and some oversea price is

quoted in evidence; but when the interested planter, with his land and his labour all ready for some enterprise of the sort, wants further details, and particularly wants to know who will buy the product, and where, and when, he cannot get anything re liable.

The fact of the matter is, there is a link missing in the chain. Agricultural experts—such as Mr.

George Murray, in New Guinea—have a great quan tity of valuable data, which they are only too glad to place at the service of the planters; the various Administrations are eager to help with any kind of new production; the co-operation of the shipping and merchandising firms may be taken as already promised; but there seems to be no person, authority or institution ready or competent to establish a con nection between these efficient factors, and a firm and reliable market. That has been the great merit of copra-growing—the market, and the buying and collecting organisations, were there, and fixed and ready, and a planter could make his calculations far ahead, with reasonable confidence.

If some Government, administration or company will create the necessary firm connection between all these eager South Seas producers and the consumers who are believed to exist, somewhere, it will be doing a great service for the South Seas.