Rubber-growers Lose Half
p. 45 · Read in the full issue
Bonus.
From Our Own Correspondent.
Pt. Moresby, Nov. 8.
THE rubber-planters of Papua re ceived with dismay in October the news of the reduction in the customs duty into Australia on raw rubber of 2d. per lb.
The announcement came without warning. In March of this year an arrangement was made by which the rubber-planters of Papua were to be assisted on the Australian market to the extent of 4d. per lb. There had been a conference in Melbourne be tween representatives of the Papuan rubber-growers and representatives of Australian rubber manufacturers. The Australian Government, under pres sure, decided to impose a 4d. a lb. duty on Papuan rubber, as on foreign rubber, which would remove the manufacturers’ difficulties with the Customs authorities, without creating a new one for the Government.
The amount collected in duty on the 4d. per lb. basis, it was decided, would be returned to Papuan growers through the Government as a grant-in-aid.
This new alteration means that if there is the slightest fall in the price of rubber, the planters will find them selves in the same critical position they were in early this year.
Captain Vellenoweth, well known in the Central Pacific as the resident agent of the New Zealand Government at Mauke in the Cook Group, recently de veloped serious blood poisoning as the result of a slight scratch on his foot, from the coral reef. Fortunately, the schooner Tagua had just arrived at Mauke en route to other Islands and the skipper, recognising the urgency of the case, immediately returned to Rara tonga so that Captain Vellenoweth might have skilled medical treatment.
At latest report the patient was mak ing satisfactory progress.
An indication of the rapid progress and settlement of the Morobe goldfield in New Guinea is contained in the fact that the community there has now established a racing club and it is pro posed to hold a race meeting at Wau at Christmas time. Messrs. W. R. Car penter and Co., Ltd., have presented the new race club with a valuable silver cup which will be the prize to be com peted for in the principal race.