Copra Prices and Whale Oil
pp. 8-9 · Read in the full issue
AN interesting visitor to Papua in De cember was Mr. P. V. Appleby, a principal of Vavasseurs Ltd, of London and Ceylon. This firm is one of the world’s biggest producers of co conuts, and owns huge plantations in
Ceylon, Philippines, Southern India, and even in Papua. He has been inspecting the latter properties.
Mr. Appleby said that the copra in dustry, at present, was not very profit able, and many plantations actually were losing money. He declared that floods of Antarctic whale oil were one of the most depressing factors, and planters did not care how soon they could hear of the apparently inevitable extinction of the whales.
Mr. W. R. Dishon arrived in Sydney from T.N.G. on December 19 by the “Bulolo” for three months’ holiday. He will then take a course in anthropology at Sydney University, before returning to New Guinea, where he is a cadet with the Government.
Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Kingsford returned to Sydney by the “Bulolo” in mid- December. Mr. Kingsford is foreign manager for the Queensland Insurance Co., and had been on a business visit to New Guinea and Papua.
From left: Mr. E. P. Appleby, Mrs. P. V. Appleby, and Mr, P. V. Appleby, head of the large Eng lish coconut-buying firm of Vavasseurs Ltd.
Mrs. L. Bairstow sailed from Sydney by the “Morinda” on January 7 for Vila, N. Hebrides, where her hus band is an em ployee of Messrs.
Burns Philp (S.S.) and Co. She had just completed a six months’ holi day in Australia.
Mrs. W. Newall, wife of the man ager of Karolla Plantation, Bou gainville, Northern Solomons, returned to B.S.I. after an absence of five years, by the “Malaita” on Jan uary 7. She had previously spent more than 14 years in the Solomons.
Mr. W. T. Hyder, Government Den tal Officer, left Sydney for Norfolk Island by the January “Morin da”, on a visit of inspection.
Commander A. S.
Rosenthal, accom panied by Mrs.
Rosenthal and their two sons, sailed from Sydney by the last “Morinda” for Norfolk Island to spend a holiday with his father, Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal, Administrator of N.I.