Solomon Is. Council

Future of Copra—Gold Prospecting—Currency System Altered

From a Special Correspondent.

Tulagi, Nov. 22.

THE Advisory Council of the Solomon Islands Protectorate commenced its second biannual session on November 4.

Members present were—Official: His Honour the Resident Commissioner (Mr.

F. N. Ashley); Government Secretary (Capt. N. S. B. Kidson), Treasurer (Mr.

F. E. Johnson. 1.5.0.), Commissioner of Lands (Mr. S. G. C. Knibbs). Non official; Mr. D. Mackinnon, Mr. G. E. Clift, and Mr. J. C. M. Scott.

A telegram was received from the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific conveying his cordial greetings, and adding: ‘‘The copra situation remains difficult, but there has been a definite advance in

price, and it is hoped there may be some further improvement. The Council, I am confident, will appreciate the friendly ac tion of the Australian Government in can celling the primage charge on the Pro tectorate product. I shall welcome any proposals by the Council for the advance ment of trade and prosperity. They will be aware of the continued necessity for the strictest economy, but I view with ap prehension the serious depletion of the Administrative staff. I feel sure that I can rely on the Council’s full co-operation in these difficult times.”

The President, in a detailed resume, said it was impossible, for various rea sons, to predict what the future of the staple product (copra) would be. He had it upon good authority that it was re cently recommended to an international commission that vegetable oils from tro pical products should be excluded from margarine.

Mining: A discovery of gold, five years ago, on the island of Guadalcanal, had led to further prospecting. The country is heavily timbered and precipitous, rising to 8000 feet, and does not lend itself readily to exploration by small companies owing to the considerable outlay of capi tal required for equipment, transport and plant. The prospect of a rich gold find is considered to be distinctly good.

Finance: The actual loss for the finan cial year 1934/35 was £l2BO, though or dinary revenue and expenditure showed a surplus of £B7B. A temporary remission of rents of crown leases, a reduction in rates of interest on fixed deposits, and £7OO short in the amount of native tax collected, accounted for the ultimate de ficit. It was pointed out that there is no public debt, and that at the end of the financial year (March 1935) the excess of assets over liabilities amounted to £62,574/10/9, as against £58,315/4/4 in 1929.

Coming to the present year, 1935/36, the outlook appears satisfactory, so long as it is possible to carry on with a reduced staff, and nothing untoward happens. In the estimates for 1936/37, provision is made for expenditure extraordinary amounting to £2950, of which £l6OO is for new beacon lights for Tulagi harbour.

Labour: From the date of the com mencement of the new minimum wage, Ist December, 1934, until 30th September, 1935, the total number of labourers who contracted under the new rate of pay is 751. There has been no resentment at the reduction, and when it is considered that the labourer under contract is pro vided with every necessity of life, and his wages are actually only pocket money, there is no reason why there should be.

Agriculture and Entomology: The prob lem of immature nutfall continues to re ceive attention. Certain experiments which were carried out proved negative, and have been abandoned. The green coconut bug Amtlypelta Cocophaga China is now under suspicion as being the cause, but investigation on a large scale will be necessary before a definite opinion can be formed.

Soil analyses performed at the Botham stead Institute indicate that although the sandier soils are better for coconuts, yet the heavier soils from some poor areas are not unsuitable, even though a de ficiency of phosphate in the sub-soil may be a contributory factor to low yields.

Other soils, by virtue of the amount of calcium carbonate present, supported good crops, notwithstanding that the percent age of clay reached 87 per cent, in some samples.

Inter-Island Wireless: This matter, which was brought up at the previous session, has been investigated by the

Wireless Department, and experiments are being conducted. These give rise to the belief that it will be possible to adopt the main installation for the transmission of telephonic speech, and, if necessary, for broadcasting to any point of the Protec torate, at comparatively small cost.

New Official Currency

The business agenda before the Coun cil comprised eight items, two of which were drafts of proposed Regulations.

The first debate related to currency.

It was resolved to recommend that the Protectorate note issue be withdrawn, and replaced by Australian notes and coin; the approval of the Commonwealth Government having first been obtained.

This will allow of the gold reserve (nominal value £2369) being disposed of at an advantageous premium. In effect, the withdrawal of notes and disposal of the relative gold reserve are the only changes. The Protectorate is already linked to Australia in the matter of com mercial exchange, and Commonwealth notes and coin circulate freely, the latter exclusively.

Formal

The second proposed Regulation amended and consolidated previous regu lations governing the Advisory Council.

Non-official members submitted an amend ment to provide for the appointment of one member each year, instead of four non-official members triennially.

The question of the continuance or otherwise of the appointment of the Government Entomologist was resolved in the affirmative by the unanimous vote of the non-official members.

Trading Store Licences

A motion to differentiate in the matter of fees charged for store licences was proposed.

It was pointed out that a small store conducted by a planter-trader, whose scope and opportunities for trading were extremely limited, was charged the same fee as the largest mercantile business. The practice adopted in New Guinea of dif ferentiating between trade stores con ducted within and without the business area was suggested as more equitable.

Non-official members unanimously sup ported the motion.

The Treasurer, while agreeing with the principle involved, and who had himself proposed an amendment of the Regula tion some years ago, was at the present stage solely concerned for the loss of revenue which might result.

The Labour Supply

The President, in moving the adjourn ment of the Council, referred to a passage in the non-official members’ reply to his opening address, and said: "With regard to your remark about labour for planta tions, I consider that a regular and con stant supply of labour to be the first essential for the copra industry, and, as you said, copra will remain the staple product, and the labour supply must, therefore, be assured.

"I hope if gold is discovered that we shall be able to give relief still further to the copra producers, as the Govern ments of our neighbouring territories have done.”

Mr. Harry W. Sullen, secretary to the Bishop of Melanesia, arrived in Sydney in December by the mission vessel Southern Cross.

Mr. A. S. Evensen, manager of Pondo plantation, owned by Coconut Products Ltd., at Rabaul, arrived in Sydney from New Guinea by the November Macdhui,