Papua and N.G.

Preference for Tea From Papua and N.G.

OWING to continued representations from the Lieutenant-Governor of Pa pua (Sir Hubert Murray), who for some time has been impressed with the possibil ities of successful tea growing in the Ter ritory, the Minister for Customs, in the House of Representatives, announced re cently that a preference had been granted on tea produced in Papua and New Guinea.

The preference consists of a duty of Id per lb. upon tea when imported into the Commonwealth in packages exceeding 201bs. nett weight, as compared with the existing duty of 3d per lb., i.e., a preference of 2d per lb. over all other countries. The preference will come into force on a date to be fixed by proclamation.

Difficulty Of Obtaining Plants

Mr. G. Murray, Director of Agriculture in New Guinea, believes that New Guinea conditions are suitable for the cultivation of tea; and, when he was aboard recently, he made numerous inquiries on the subject in Ceylon, East Indies, etc.

Mr. Murray found nothing to alter his belief that the tea industry could be estab lished in New Guinea; but he dil learn that owing to an international agreement it is practically impossible to get seed or plants for cultivation in any country but the present tea growing countries. “I tried in Ceylon, Malaya, and Java to get tea plants or seed for New Guinea,” said Mr.

Murray, “but they would not supply them.”

Mr. Murray said that the production of low-land tea is paying now in Malaya— but that may be due to the general restric tions which have been p’aced upon pro duction. He learned in Ceylon, to his sur prise, that most of the t°a that goes to Australia is of second-class quality—he always had understood that Australian tea-drinkers demanded first class grade.

Mr. F. T. O’Dea, manager for Holden’s Air Transport Co. Ltd. at Salamaua, re turned to New Guinea by the Montoro on January 11, after three weeks’ leave in Sydney.