More Farce!

French and British Copra in New Hebrides

THE existing copra position, in its differ ent application to British and French production, has provided the already far cical Condominium with the final reduction ad absurdum.

In the September issue, we gave some instances of the extraordinary manner in which the Condominium operates. The following is worth an article to itself. As is well known, French-produced copra en ters France duty-free. Copra that is not French in origin pays an import duty; and, from the funds thus provided, a bonus is paid to French copra-growers to compen sate them for the existing low prices.

The following is taken from a letter to the Editor, written by a planter in the New Hebrides.

WE get no help from the British section of the Condominium Government — the British officials seem to be quite help less. It has now come to the stage that it is almost a crime to be under the British. flag in this group, and the British planters and traders are a laughing stock for the majority of the French residents, in that they have to try to compete for a meagre living under very unfair conditions.

“The following is a case in point, and happened quite recently. B.P.’s steamer came in, offering £2/10/- per ton for copra, which one planter refused. The following day an employee of his French neighbour (a new ‘mushroom’ buyer) came, and offered him £5/15/- per ton, stating that that was the price he was paying to natives for their copra. The British planter accepted that price for three tons! Later the French man came along to take delivery, but said the employee had made a mistake, and that the best price he could pay was consider ably under £5/15/-. When the British planter demurred, and pointed out that natives could sell inferior copra at £5/15/-, it was pointed out to him that his copra, being of British origin and grown, was only worth £2/10/- locally, and it was only by ‘special favour’ that he could sell it at all!

“Of course, the Britisher had to shut up quickly and accept the inevitable and try to look pleased about it and conditions in general.

“The French steamers have a printed list of prices to be paid in the group, viz.— Copra (French), £5/3/-; Copra (English), £2/11/-. In my opinion, this is a direct reflection on the British portion of the Con dominium and a good hint that we should either get out, or at least do something more than sit on our tail-bones in Vila, trying to look official, and important links of the Empire! Great Britain's record in this group as colonizers has been lament able, helpless and tragic, and we poor beg gars of planters, who are in and can’t get. out, have to bear the brunt of the tragic administration!

“The funniest part of the whole thing is that if a Frenchman buys copra from a native, it is classed as French copra and sold as such at about £5 per ton. But if an Englishman buys that same copra, it immediately becomes English, and that means that the price is half of £5.

“Trade is trade, the world over, so it is not necessary for me to tell you what is; o-oing on. ‘Dummying’ is rampant. Who can blame the unfortunate planters!”