Copra

All Interests Active in Facing Market Difficulties

A LTHOUGH the copra outlook con il tinues dismal—it could not be other wise, with the whole European market except Britain, closed against it —the ingenuity and resource of mer chants, traders and governments has re sulted in a surprising amount of South Pacific copra being shifted during the last few weeks. It is finding markets in unexpected places.

There has been in all countries a hur ried examination of the possibility of using copra for other purposes—especially as stock fodder.

In Australia, sheep-farmers, anxiously seeking fodder during the drought (now ended), used unprepared copra, in bulk, and succeeded in poisoning hundreds of sheep. It was found that crushed copra, properly combined with other fodders, is a quite satisfactory stock food; but this is an uncertain market, fluctuating sharply according to the rainfall, and in any event does not represent a large amount of copra.

New Zealand has experimented on a large scale with copra as a food for pigs, and. properly mixed with other fodders, it has been found so satisfactory that NZ Government has arranged to nurchase the whole of the output of the Samoan Reparation Estates (about 4,000 tons per annum). This is being taken at £8 per ton, in store, New Zealand. This leaves Western Samoa with only about 10,000 or 11,000 tons p.a. to dispose of.

Fiji copra-producers have shown the liveliest interest in the possibility of selling copra to NZ pig-farmers, but the information available" indicates that the price (£NZB per ton) does not cover Fiji production costs after all charges are paid.

THE most interesting development of the month is the report—so far un confirmed—that Sir Walter Car penter, head of the Carpenter companies, now in America, has completed arrange ments for the establishment in Canada of a large copra-crushing plant, capable perhaps of dealing with at least 50.000 tons p.a. An American journal, in November, announced that the money had been found and a company formed, and the names of two prominent American men, together with that of Sir Walter Carpenter, were given as the new board. Carpenter headquarters in Sydney declined to make any comment.

After the three Carpenter ships, “Suva”, “Salamaua” and “Rabaul”, were taken over by the British Government a year ago, the firm bought two American steamers, “Admiral Chase” and “Admiral Wiley”, for Pacific freighting. “Wiley” was wrecked on her first voyage. “Chase” is now carrying on a regular service. It is reported that Messrs. Carpenter have practically completed the purchase of another Pacific freighter, similar to the “Admiral Chase”.

A steamer has been assigned to New Caledonia and the New Hebrides to pick up French copra for a market that has become available; and another is scheduled to load 4,000 tons of French copra in French Oceania. These dis positions, made by British interests, will give substantial help to the French colonists.

When France capitulated, numerous cargoes of nickel mattes, from New Cale donia, were stored in Indo-China. There then was no European market for them.

Word has been received that they were sold to Japan for 500 dollars per ton.