French Coffee and Cocoa Coming

to Australia

A REPORT from Noumea to the effect that the Australian Government had guaranteed to purchase the whole of the New Caledonian unsold coffee crop with the offer of unrestricted import licences was published widely in Australian newspapers on April 7; but inquiries by the “PIM” reveal that this statement is somewhat premature. Dis cussions are proceeding between the Aus tralian and New Caledonian Govern ments in connection with the Colony’s coffee production, but as yet nothing definite has been decided upon.

New Caledonia produces about 2,000 tons of coffee a year, and prior to the French capitulation the whole of this went to France. With the French mar ket gone, New Caledonians looked to Australia to assist them, and the Com monwealth Government agreed to allow the coffee to come into Australia on the same basis as other countries. Since then increasing quantities of Robusta and Arabica grades have been sold in Sydney at good prices.

New Hebrides cocoa planters, who were in exactly the same position as New Caledonia coffee planters, have been substantially assisted by the Australian Government. New Hebrides cocoa was subject to the following charges: Duty, id. a lb.; primage 5 per cent.; primage

on value of containers, 10 per cent.; and & war duty Qf 1Q per cen t. The j d alb duty has been suspended “for the dura

tion”; and the whole of the New Heb rides cocoa crop of 1,200 tons a year is coming to Australia. To-day, it is sell ing in Sydney at prices ranging from £3B to £42 a ton.

Mr. I. Shoobridge, of the NG Crown Law Office, is on furlough in Sydney.