Unilever

A Challenge To

N.G. Planters’ Appeal to Australia

- From Our Own Correspondent.

Rabaul, Feb. 4.

THE Executive Committee of the Planters’ Association of New Guinea has started a movement for the investigation of the “ramifications” of Unilever, Ltd.

The following extract, from “The Rabaul Times,” explains the situation: The following is the resolution passed by the committee at the January (1934) meeting and forwarded to the Prime Min ister of Australia for transmission to the British Government: “That this Association, through the Ad ministrator, requests the Commonwealth Government to make representation to the British Government, through the Higii Commissioner for Australia, London, to institute an inquiry into the ramifications of the Unilever Company and its sub sidiary companies with a view to regu lating and, if necessary, restricting the profits of the Unilever Combine within reasonable limits. We suggest at the same time, that the co-operation of other Governments concerned should be sought.

This action is requested in view of the control exercised by the Unilever Com pany .and its Associated Companies over the world’s vegetable oil products, which is directly instrumental in maintaining the price of these products below cost of production. Further, that copies of re presentations made be forwarded to recognised producers’ associations in all copra-producing countries, requesting them to make similar representations to their respective Governments.”

In the covering letter to the Australian Prime Minister, the Committe said — “After mature consideration the mem bers of this organisation deemed it de sirable that, in order to save the exten sively established coconut industry of the various tropical countries of the world, there should be some international en deavour made to rationalise the effect of a world combine on the market price of copra.

“Although the Territory of New Guinea produces a very small proportion of the world’s copra, we understand that these Islands market more copra than any other British group or country in the South Sea Islands, which is the greatest producing section in the world, for that reason it may be appropriate for the request to emanate from this Association.”

EDITORIAL NOTE. —The foregoing report, which reached us on the eve of going to press, is of first-rate importance. It will be most inter esting to observe the manner in which the request of the Planters’ Association is dealt with by the Australian and British Governmental authorities.

The subject, by a curious coincidence, is dealt with in detail in our article on pages 3 and 4 of this issue—which was actually in type before we knew of the action taken by the N.G. Planters’

Association.