Threatened

Papuan Rubber

Dutch Plea for Restriction

A SERIOUS threat to the rubber indus try of Papua has arisen as a result of representations made by the Dutch Go vernment, which is interested in the operation of the international agreement for the control of rubber production.

The agreement came into operation some years ago when enormous over-production of rubber threatened to ruin the industry in all countries. The agreement imposed a restriction on production, all subscrib ing countries being allotted a quota. -Britain was a party to that agreement and scrupulously observed it so far as Malaya and other British rubber-producing coun tries are concerned. Australia was not a party to the agreement.

No one took much notice of Papua’s rub ber production—her contribution to the world’s supply was so small. The produc tion of rubber, however, has been the economic salvation of Papua—otherwise the territory has had to rely almost entirely on the uncertain coconut. Year by year, Papua’s production of rubber has increased, until it is now over 1,000 tons per annum, worth nearly £lOO,OOO.

A large portion of this rubber is con sumed in Australia and does not affect the world market; but, for some reason, the attention of the Dutch Government has been directed to it, with the result that certain representations have been made to Canberra with the object of bringing the Papuan rubber industry under the interna tional convention.

Any interference with the rubber indus try in Papua would seriously threaten the economic stability of the territory and it is considered unlikely that Australia will be come a party to the convention.

Mr. I. Shoobridge, of the Crown Law Office, Rabaul, returned to New Guinea by the Macdhui from Sydney on August 20.