Planters’ Association of New Guinea Safeguarding

New Guinea Safeguarding the Interests of Copra Producers

THE annual report of the Executive Council of the Planters’ Association of New Guinea shows that there has been much activity during the year on the part of that live body to safeguard the interests of the coconut planters in the Mandated Territory.

Mainly as a result of the Association’s representations a new system of payments of purchase instalments due on expro priated properties was agreed to by the Commonwealth Government. It came into operation on July 1 and has created a sense of security and optimism among copra producers.

The report deals at length with the pro posed amendments to the Trading Regula tion (“Two Mile Limit” regulation). The committee declares: — “It is common knowledge that certain officials not in a position to form a sound and independent judgment on this sub ject and ignorant of the ramifications and difficulties to be faced by planters and traders are prejudiced and opposed to the principle of a protected trading area around plantations on the ground that it leaves the way open to exploitation of natives.

“The Association emphatically denies this, maintaining that experience has proved that any abuses under existing re gulations are the merest trifle compared

with the irregularities which existed under the totally unrestricted system of trading.”

In view of the possible necessity for the establishment of concentration points for produce, consequent upon the introduc tion of the Shipping Bill, the Association believes that an up-to-date roads policy, which will meet agricultural requirements, should be proceeded with immediately by the Administration.

The Committee protests against the omission from the recently published terms of the mail contract of Kavieng and Madang as main ports of call by direct boats from Australia.

It is urged that a progressive and com prehensive agricultural policy be formu lated and put into operation. It is con sidered that a Board of Agriculture should be formed as scon as possible.

Representation was made to the Admini stration for the abolition of the Native Labour Tax. The tax was remitted for 12 months, expiring June 30, 1937.

Cited as the “most important matter which has yet demanded the attention and deepest consideration of the Planters’ As sociation,” the stormy Shipping Bill re ceived a few more broadsides in the Com mittee’s report. The latter urged that a Royal Commission be constituted to in quire into “the whole of the circumstances which have led up to the introduction of this legislation, its effect upon the com merce and industry of the Territory; the necessity for such legislation, and the whole question of territorial shipping re quirements and operations.”

Mr. W. M. Campbell, who has been en gaged for some time as engineer superin tendent with Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd., arrived in Australia from Rabaul by the Van Rees early in October.