N.G. Cocoa

Planters Assisted by War

IT is possible that the Hitler war will establish the cocoa industry in New Guinea.

For some years, planters in New Guinea have been growing cocoa-beans; but. owing to lack of experience and crude methods of fermentation and packing, they have been fighting an uphill battle.

The confectionery manufacturers in Australia use very large quantities of cocoa-beans, but all their formulae, machinery and processes are adapted to the beans which come mostly from West Africa and the West Indies. Because the use of New Guinea cocoa-beans meant considerable changes in formulae and processes, the Australian manufacturers were not eager to make an experiment— so. in order to give them some induce ment, the price had to be kept low.

Nevertheless, the New Guinea copoa beans. slowlv but surelv have beer, enter ing the Australian market.

In this connection it is worth recalling that the Editor of the “Pacific Islands Monthly”, some years ago. wrote individu ally to the principal confectionery manu facturers in Australia, and begged them to give the New Guinea cocoa-bean industry a chance: and it is gratefully acknowledged that some of the big firms —especially Messrs. H. Small & Co.. Ltd., Hoadleys, Ltd., Cadbury-Fry-Pascall. Ltd., and Stedman Henderson, Ltd—did take special steps to make room for the pro duct of New Guinea, and thus gave en couragement and assistance to the New Guinea growers.

Since then, the production of the New Guinea growers has grown to about 250 tons per annum, and the quality of the beans has definitely improved.

The whole position changed as soon as war broke out. Australian manufacturers were not able to receive from overseas their customary supolies of cocoa-beans and cocoa-butter, and they began anxiously to seek substitute supplies. The New Guinea beans are handled in Sydney by only two or three agents; and those agents, remembering the treatment they had received at the hands of the differ ent manufacturers, made it their busi ness to offer their all-too-limited sup plies first to the firms which had helped the New Guinea cocoa industry.

Prices, which had been in the vicinity of £26 or £27 per ton. just before the out break of war, had increased to £35 per ton by the middle of September and were going higher. New Guinea growers receive also a Commonwealth bounty.

All this means that Australian manu facturers are adapting their formulae and processes •to the New Guinea product ; and, if the war continues for any time, and the manufacturers become accust omed to the use of the New Guinea pro duct. it seems certain that the New Guinea industry will be soundly estab lished.

New Guinea growers should remember, however, that for many years Germany has been the largest buyer of West African cocoa-beans and that, therefore, all that huge production must seek other markets. Therefore, although the price may be high in Sydney for a while, ow ing to the difficulty in obtaining ship ments from Europe to Australia, It may not remain high.

Australian manufacturers regard the

Samoan cocoa-bean as very good indeed, But its high quality already has given it a guarantee of a high price on the other side of the world —so high that very few Samoan beans find their way to Australia.

Mr. Ken Lewis returned to Samarai, Eastern Papua, in September after spend ing furlough in China and Japan. He has now taken up duties again at Samarai Power House.

Rev. W. G. Thomas, vicar of Mordialloc, Victoria, will shortly visit Nauru and Ocean Island, Central Pacific, as chap lain under the auspices of the Australian Board of Missions.

Mrs. Winifred Jenner, formerly a resi dent of Rabaul, and more recently of Wau, left the Mandated Territory in September, and expects now to make her permanent home in Australia.