Australian Manufacturers Shun N.G.

Cocoa Beans

Letter to the Editor.

FROM time to time you have devoted space in your valuable journal to the subject of New Guinea cocoa beans. It might, therefore, be of interest to your readers, and especially the Islands pro ducers, if I describe a recent experience in marketing Cocoa Beans in Australia.

My samples duly arrived and were shown to an expert, who examined same and expressed his opinion—namely, that the samples were fair average quality of the New Guinea Cocoa Beans. On the strength of this valuation I proceeded to interview various buyers.

After examining the beans, the first prospective buyer I interviewed informed me that the sample was of good quality, but owing to large stocks, he was not prepared to make a bid. I then went to another manufacturer, who, apparently, was very busy at the time, and when I tendered my card, I was informed that “he had no interest in New Guinea beans and was too busy to see me.” Conse quently I crossed buyer No. 2 off my list.

Returning to my office, I divided up the samples and posted some to manufac turers in a neighbouring State, at the same time writing them a polite letter asking for their best quotation for the class of beans, as per sample. These manufacturers did not even have the courtesy to reply to my letter. Next time I communicate with them, I shall send

them a stamped envelope by way of an inducement to reply.

In despair, I went back to No. 1 buyer and showed him the same samples as I had done three weeks previously, and which he had admitted were good samples of New Guinea beans. He informed me that the beans were very poor quality and were absolutely useless to him!

Naturally, I was very disappointed with the results of my efforts, and even more disappointed at the thought of cabling my New Guinea friends not to send any further quantities of Cocoa Beans to this market, as the buyers here apparently were prejudiced against New Guinea beans. However, before doing so, I approached another firm, from whom I had previously received very courteous treatment, and showed them the same samples as I had shown Buyer No. 1.

They offered me £33 per ton, which I promptly accepted.

This is my experience in marketing New Guinea Cocoa Beans in this part of the world, and there certainly seems to be something “rotten in the state of Denmark” when producers in the Islands are treated in this manner. This sort of thing gives them no encouragement to produce, in spite of the benefit of the Government bounty, and the New Guinea planter has a very hard row to hoe. Local buyers of Cocoa Beans, apart from tak ing into consideration the quality of the

beans submitted to them, also seem to have the bounty in view, as it appears to me that the bounty eventually drifts to the manufacturers. , On consideration, I think it might be of benefit to Cocoa Bean producers in New Guinea if the Federal Government placed a duty on all foreign Cocoa Beans imported into the Australian market.

This might have the desired result, and possibly manufacturers will find that they can use New Guinea beans, which will, in turn, be an incentive for the present growers to increase their output.

I am, etc.,

Disgusted Salesman.

Sydney, February 18.

Mrs. A. C. Dickson, 8.A., recently ar rived in Fiji to take up the position of headmistress of the Suva Girls’ Grammar School. Formerly she was in charge of the Girls’ High School at Greymouth, New Zealand. Mrs. Dickson is a graduate of the University of Tasmania and holds a Diploma of Education from Oxford University, England.