Better Copra

How Depression Has Benefited Papua

From Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, Jan 24.

SATISFACTION is felt by planters con cerning the recent Ordinance passed by the Government to amend the Cus toms (Export) Tariff in relation to the export duty on copra, which comes into operation in the Territory on the London price exceeding £2O a ton.

The new Ordinance provides that the “London price” shall be gazetted in grades—Sun-dried, Smoke-dried, and Hot air Dried—and duty shall be paid accor ding to the value of the grade exported.

Previously, duty was paid at the rate of 10 per cent on the amount by which the “London price” exceeded £2O a ton, such price being gazetted from time to time, and being arrived at by averaging the price of two grades, South Seas sun dried and Smoke-dried.

Attention has been given in the Ter ritory to the quality of copra exported, and every effort is being made to attain the highest standard. In May, 1934, when the Administration assisted copra grow ers to the extent of £B,OOO in one year, when the market price dropped as low as £7/5/-, insistence on quality was main tained, and all copra eligible for the bonus was subject to inspection and marked “Papuan Plantation,” which in sured that only the best quality was shipped.

This high standard insisted upon by the Government has done much to raise the value of copra produced in the Ter ritory for no assistance was given to any shipments containing “copra undried, imperfectly dried, sweated, rotten, con taining grit, dust, or other foregn sub stance.” These conditions naturally did not affect well organised plantations, and were merely means to maintain general supervision, with one object in view— namely, to raise the standard of Papuan copra.

The export values of copra, on which duty is to be assessed from January 1 until further notice, are as follows: Hot air Dried, £22/12/6: Sun-dried, £2l/12/6; Smoke-dried. £2l/12/6.