Rattan Cane

Development of New Industry for N. Guinea

ABOUT the end of 1933 a well-known Australian visited the island of Bou gainville (Northern Solomons), which is included in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. This gentleman had been in the East Indies; and in Dutch West Borneo had seen huge rafts of timber coming down the rivers laden with bundles of Rattan cane, which were transported to Singapore and thence distributed to the markets of the world.

When he was in the Buin district, South Bougainville, he was surprised to find the same kind of cane growing freely in large areas of jungle. This was not cane which the natives usually use freely in building their houses—it is a variety which he found in all parts of the Bougainville jungle and which seemed to have no use there, what ever.

Before he left Bougainville he arranged that a parcel of about 7 cwt. of this cane should be cut in the jungle and shipped to him in Australia. This was done. The cane was cut in the crudest fashion, and without any attempt at selection.

On his return to Australia he secured statistics which showed that Australia an nually consumes about £5,000 worth of this cane, which is procured from Java, Singapore, Malaya and China. His -con signment from Bougainville came duly to hand and he made arrangements for its distribution among manufacturers of sea grass and cane furniture. He found that simultaneously a representative of Messrs.

Bums Philp and Co. Ltd. was also visiting the furniture manufacturers, with a sample of Bougainville cane; and as he was merely seeking to open up a new industry for New Guinea, he saluted the prompt business enterprise of the big firm.

The furniture manufacturers reported that some of the cane was of very poor quality, obviously the result of unskilful selection, but that some portions of the samples indicated that cane of good quality could be secured from Bougainville, which would be quite suitable for the manufac ture of furniture.

One of the manufacturers said that if the people in Bougainville would select cane in straight lengths, of from 14 to 16 feet, with a diameter of from five-eighths to nine-eighths of an inch and of suitable colour and pliability, he would be quite prepared to purchase them at a price that, while considerably under the East Indies price, would still return the producer in Bougainville a satisfactory profit.

The question of freight arose. It ap peared that Messrs. Burns Philp & Co.

Ltd. charged £14/6/ per ton (or about 50 per cent, more than freezer cargo); but it cost only 38/- per ton to bring the same class of goods (Rattan cane) from Singa pore.

In February, 1934, the Australian busi ness man concerned reported fully upon the whole matter to the Administrator (General Griffiths) and the latter displayed keen interest in the possibility of develop ing this new industry. He was informed that the market in Australia absorbs Rat tan at £40 per ton upwards—some qualities bringing £70 per ton. The freight probably would be in excess of that from Singapore; but the freedom from exchange charges would favour the Bougainville product. The Administrator thought that this industry could be established in New Ouinea, if the Government took steps to

see that only cane of correct pliability and good colour reached the Australian mar ket.

When General Griffiths returned to Ra baul in April last he placed the whole matter in the hands of the Director of Agriculture and asked that inquiries be made.

During April, 1934, the Administrator discussed with Messrs. Burns Philp and Co., Ltd., Rabaul, the question of freight on this cane; and the local manager (Mr.

Coote) took an active interest in the mat ter and wrote to Sydney, recommending that this cane, provided it be made into compact bundles, be carried at the same rate as copra—namely, 35/- per ton dead weight.

About the end of April the Director of Agriculture, Rabaul, sent out to District Officers some details about the proposed Rattan cane industry and added instruc tions showing how Rattan should be pre pared.

We understand that shipments of this cane are now coming to Australia through the merchandising department of Messrs.

Burns Philp and Co., Ltd., and that it is being purchased by furniture manufac

turers, etc., in Australia. This is an excel lent development for the Territory—with the exception that freight is still being charged at over £14 per ton, and the Australian manufacturers are being charged £40 per ton.

An observer, writing to the P.I.M., says: “The user is prepared to pay this £40, as even then he is better off than with Rattan brought down from Java, owing to the exchange position; but you can see that if £10 per ton were allowed for freight, merchandising and profit, the plantation owner or trader in New Guinea would get a gross return of £30 per ton. The natives in Bougainville are glad to bring in as much cane as is wanted for £8 per ton — and so you can see the possibilities of profit in this trade. No Islands produce can pay a freight rate of £14 per ton and exist, unless the trader is merely a milch cow for the shipping interests.”