Copra

Early Announcement of Help for Producers

A STATEMENT in relation to the progress of the plan for giving relief to the South Pacific copra industry was made to the “Pacific Islands Monthly” on March 12 by the Australian Minister in Charge of External Terri tories (Mr. T. J. Collins).

“An announcement on the subject of providing financial assistance to copra producers in. the Australian mandated territories is likely to be made at an early date. The plan made by the Govern ments represented at the Pacific Copra Conference, held in Sydney in Decem ber and January, is making favourable progress, but on account of the neces sity of consulting a number of Govern ments there has been some delay and it is not yet possible to make known the general details.”

It can be said, however, that (as stated in our February issue) the plan envisages an organisation that will extend over all the copra-producing ter ritories of the South Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand. There will be a central board, and sub-boards, or committees, in the different territories; the utmost financial assistance possible will be given to copra producers in each of the territories, the Administration of each territory making itself responsible for such assistance, but working in close co-operation with the various interests concerned; production, storage, shipping and marketing will be carried out by all the territories in consultation, on a co ordinated plan.

It is believed that the main difficulty in the way of finalisation is agreement among the various Governments as to the amount of financial assistance which can be provided in each territory, and the most effective method of applying same.

Three months have passed since this plan was first mooted and, judging by the inquiries being made at the Sydney office of the “PIM”, there already is a good deal of impatience among copra producers at the delay. However, it must be recognised that in the present circum stances, and especially in view of the interruptions in shipping communica tions in various directions, a good deal of delay was unavoidable.

It is expected that the plan will have taken definite shape, and may possibly be in operation, before our next issue.