Islands Produce

THE following quotations were obtained in Sydney in mid-May:—

Coffee

Java: Robusta, f.a.q., imported on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f.. prompt shipment, Sydney (Sterling): Quote No. 1: 41/-. Quote No. 2: 43/6.

Boengie (a good quality Java coffee), c.i.f., Sydney, 52/-.

Kenya, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. (Stg.): Balance of crop sold to USA, no further supplies available. Last quotes were: Grade “B”, 65/-; “C”, 62/-.

East Africa: Robusta, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, 38/-.

Mysore, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. Quote No. 1: Ships’ assortment. Government pool formed, Grade “A”, 82/-; Grade “B”, 76/-; Grade “C”, 69/-. (It has been reported In Sydney, however, that parcels have been bought at prices lower than the above official quo tations.) Quote No. 2 (c.i.f., Sydney); Grade “A”, 73/-; Grade “B”, 66/-; Triage, 60/-.

Arabian (Aden) Hodeidah, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney.

No. 1 quotation; 82/-.

NG and Papua: Quote No. 1; B%d. per lb. (delivered store, Sydney), medium quality.

Quote No. 2: B%d. per lb. (delivered store, Sydney). Quote No. 3: 8 3 / 4 d.-9d. per lb., c.i.f., Sydney.

New Caledonian: Some Sydney agents report that as there is no Government grading system in the Colony, New Caledonian coffee coming into Australia varies considerably in quality, making it difficult to give general quotations on either the Arabica or Robusta grades. Each parcel, it is stated, must be treated on its merits. The following are quotations obtained from several different sources in May;—Quote No. 1 (in store, Sydney): Arabica, from 10 7 / B d.

to HV 2 d. per lb.; Robusta, 33/- per cwt. (3-15/28d. per lb.). Quote No. 2 (c.i.f., Sydney): Robusta, 4d. per lb.; Arabica, Bd. per lb. Quote No. 3( (c.i.f., Sydney): Arabica, Bd. per lb.; Robusta, 4d. per lb. Quote No. 4 (c.i.f., Sydney): Arabica, £56-£6O per ton; Robusta, £34-£4O per ton.

As all French colonies in the Pacific now have been brought into the sterling bloc. New Cale donian coffee has been removed from the licencing list.

New Hebrides: £36 per ton, c.i.f., Sydney. (Note; Importers of all coffees—except NG and Papuan—pay additional charges, including exchange, duty (4.4 d. lb.), primage (11 p-r cent.), landing costs (1/- per cwt.), war duty (10 per cent.)]

Vanilla Beans

Tahiti/ c.i.f., Sydney. Quote No. 1: Approxi mate market price, white label, 24/- a lb.; green label, 17/- a lb. Quote No. 2: White label and yellow label (April shipment), 27/6-28/- a lb.

Kapok

Quote No. 1: Average Java 6 13-16 d. per lb., c.i.f.: Prime Japara, 6V 2 d. per lb., c.i.f. Quote No. 2: Average Java, 7d., c.i.f. (Stg.); Prime Japara, 7-5/16d., c.i.f. (Stg.) Subject to ex change 2514%, duty 2d. per lb., 10% primage, 10% war duty, wharfage, etc.

Kapok may now come into Australia only from sterling sources (including Netherlands East Indies and India).

Ivory Nuts

Owing to war conditions, Sydney agents are not quoting for ivory nuts. The last quo tations, some time ago, indicated that a nominal rate was in the vicinity of £7 per ton.

Cotton

New Caledonian: A Sydney agent reported early in May that a small quantity of New Caledonian cotton had been sold at 9d. a lb., c.i.f., Sydney.

Cocoa

New Guinea cocoa; Quote No. 1; £4O-£46 per ton. Quote No. 2: £4O-£43.

Accra, good fermented, £33/10/- per ton (Sterling).

New Hebrides cocoa (delivered store, Sydney): Quote No. 1: £42 per ton. Quote No. 2: £4O - per ton. Quote No. 3: £37-£39 per ton, c.i.f., Sydney.

Rice

Rangoon rice, packed in 100 lb. bags, £l9/10/per ton; 200 lb, sacks, £l9 per ton.

Australian table rice, packed in 56 lb. bags, £2O per ton.

Trochus Shell

Quote No. 1; Grade “A”, £54; Grade “B”, £46: Grade “C”, £36; “Chicken”. £36.

Other nominal quotations were: Quote No. 2: Grade “A”, £6O; Grade “B”, £5O; Grade “C”, £4O. Quote No. 3: Grade “A”, £5O; Grade “B”, £4O; Grade “C”, £3O.

Green Snail Shell

Green snail shell was sold by a Sydney agent in April at £5B/10/- a ton. Another agent re ported sales early this month at £6O per ton.

Quote No. 3: £5B-£6O.

Mother Of Pearl Shell

Thursday Is. MOP, c.i.f., Sydney. Grade “AA”, £173 per ton; Grade “A”. £173; Grade “B” £157; Grade “C”, £173; Grade “DD”, £128; Grade “D”, £117; Grade “E”, £7B.

Peanuts

New Guinea peanuts: Unshelled, 2 3 / 4 d. per lb.; shelled, 4*/2d. per lb.

Gum Herol

Gum Herol, which is gathered in certain dis tricts of Papua and exported to Australia, where

it is used in the manufacture of varnishes, etc., is quoted by a Sydney agent at £27 per ton.

Rubber

Papuan: No. 1 smoked sheet rubber is sold in the Commonwealth at the Australian equivalent of the London price for “Plantation Smoked” (see detailed London prices on another page).

In London early this month an Official Controller was appointed, and the Ministry of Supply has become the sole importer of rubber into Great Britain.