Exchange Rates

The following exchange quotations, gathered in Sydney, show the rates existing in Sydney on December 18:

Fiji—Through Bank Of N.S.W

And Bank Of New Zealand.

Australia on Fiji on basis of £100 Fiji: Buying £111, selling £113/10/-.

Fiji-London on basis £100 London.

Western Samoa—Through

Bank Of N.Z.

Exchange Australia, on Western Samoa, basis Samoa—selling £113/15/-, buying £110/15/-.

Exchange, Samoa on London, basis £100 in London: —

The above is only a nominal indication. The exchange between Apia and Suva, Apia and New Zealand, Apia and Sydney, and Apia and London, is constantly altering.

New Guinea And Papua—

Through Commonwealth

Bank.

From Australia, on Rabaul and Pt. Moresby £1 per cent.

From Rabaul on London, same as Australia on London— per cent.

Through Bank Of N.S.W.

Australia, on Papua and New Guinea, £1 per cent, premium each way, equivalent to commission of £1 per cent.

Papua and New Guinea, on London: Same as Australia on London, and vice versa.

Direct Telegraphic Transfer.

Selling Rates.

Quoted by

Bank Of New South Wales

in Australia.

New Caledonia— Through

French Bank.

Drafts, Sydney-Noumea and Noumea-Sydney, are

on the basis of current rate of exchange on Paris less 1 per cent, either way. As quoted by the Compton- National, in Sydney, and the Bank cf Indo-Chine, Noumea:— On December 18, when the Australian £ was nominally worth 66.20 francs, £100 Australian would purchase a credit in Noumea of 6,620 francs.

The rates between Sydney and Noumea are not made direct, but depend mostly on the Paris- London telegraphic rate, which fluctuates con stantly. It is usually much cheaper to transfer a large sum than a small sum between Sydney and Noumea, as the large sum can be made the subject of a cable to Paris, and its transfer arranged at a fixed price, while the small sum takes the chance of the market; and the banks, of course, guard themselves against loss.

Post Office Orders.

The following are the rates for transfer of money between Sydney and Pacific Groups through the General Post Office. All such transfers are limited in amount.

Papua Mandated Territory of New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia—rate 3d. for each £ or fraction, with minimum charge of 6d.; remittances strictly restricted to small amounts for business purposes, at absolute discretion of post office authorities.

Norfolk Island—6d. for £5 or fraction: no restriction; same as Interstate.

Solomon Islands, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, longa No actual restriction, but an implied one; rate 4d. for each £ or fraction for first £6; and 3d. for each additional £, with minimum charge of 9d. Post office orders issued at discretion of post office authorities.

New Hebrides and Tahiti.—No money order issued through post office.

Western Samoa and Cook Islands.—Transfers can be effected by Australian Post Office through New Zealand Post Office: but amounts are limited to £100 per week per remitter.

Buying. Selling.

Telegraphic transfer.. .. £110 15 0 £112 0 0 On demand £110 12 6 £111 17 6

Buying. Selling.

Telegraphic transfer.. .. £124 5 0 £125 5 0 On demand 124 0 0 124 17 6 30 days 123 15 0 124 5 0 60 days 123 10 0 124 12 6

Australia on Papeete.

Francs to £ Average for week ended 20/11/33 .. .. 64.49 Australian Average for week ended 27/11/33 .. 65.39 Average for week ended 4/12/33 .. 66.10 Average for week ended 11/12/33 .. 65.78 Australia on Noumea.

Francs to £ Average for week ended 20/11/33 .. 64.29 Average for week ended 27/11/33 .. 65.19 Average for week ended 4/12/33 .. 65.90 Australian Average for week ended 11/12/33 .. , 65.53