Papua

Planters’ Association of Papua First Bulletin Issued

THE Planters’ Association of Papua, which was formed in January, issued its first bulletin to members on June 7.

The following is a summary of the infor mation contained therein: Captain A. S. Fitch has resigned. He found that his business interests conflicted with the aims of the Association.

The Association has written to the Agricultural Adviser to the Colonial Office, London, for as sistance in obtaining the services for the Adminis tration of an Agricultural Expert, with practical field experience. Members have agreed that the appointee should be given a seat on the Legisla tive Council.

The Hon. T. Nevitt recently interviewed the Minister for Customs in Australia in an endeavour to accelerate rubber bounty payments. The Minis ter promised to see that there was no further delay.

Experiments in rubber packing have been carried out at Eilpgo Estate. The produce was packed in one cover of heavy type Japanese calico.

It reached Sydney in good order, but Melbourne wharf lumpers used cargo hooks on it, completely disrobing it. According to the Hon. T. Nevitt, the Dunlop Perdriau Rubber Co. insists on rubber being baled in hessian wrappers with an inside covering of light calico. Dunlops say that a light sprinkling of french chalk should be given the bale before wrapping, to prevent the cover from stick ing to the rubber.

The Association, in a letter to the Director of Agriculture, has pointed out that there are plenty of suitable places in Papua for tea growing, but want of roads prevents such development. The only labour available (prisoners) for district roads is now being enrolled for carrying on patrol work.

The Council views with concern the expenditure of revenue in this direction and the neglect of out side public works.

On his own initiative, the Hon. Arthur Jewell has installed a telephone radio station at Lolurua.

The Council has asked the Government what radio stations it intends to erect, as some members are about to instal land telephones to nearby shipping ports. They cannot make a move until they know the Government’s programme.

Representation has been made to the directors of Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co., Ltd., in an en deavour to bring about a cheaper form of handling copra and other produce at Port Moresby.

Ten years ago the Federal Government granted Papua a preferential tariff and the sum of £25,000 per annum for 10 years. Hardly any of the items of the tariff have been grown in any quantity, with the result that very little of the £250,000 set aside has been touched. Planters at the time complained that the principal product, rubber, which should have been included, was left out.

The term for the preferential tariff has expired and the Federal Cabinet is now considering a new one. The Planters’ Association suggests that rub ber should be definitely included. A more simple method would be for Australia to grant a long term bounty of 20 to 30 years. With such a guar antee, many investors would put capital into Papua, and in the course of years the Common wealth’s rubber requirements would be solely sup plied by the Territory.