Islands Produce

THE following quotations were obtained In Sydney in mid-November: —

Coffee

Java: Robusta, f.a.q.. imported on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f., prompt shipment, Sydney (Sterling): Quote No. 1; 46/9. Quote No. 2: 49/-.

Boengie (a good quality Java coffee), c.i.f., Sydney, 64/3.

Kenya, f.a.q., Immediate shipment, c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. (Stg.): Quote No. 1; Grade “B”, 74/-; “C”, 68/-.

East Africa: Robusta, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, 56/-. Mocha (Standard Billy), f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, 54/-.

Mysore, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. Quote No. 1: Grade “A", 76/-; Grade “B", 68/-; Grade “C”, 62/-.

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

No. 1 quotation: 82/-.

NO and Papua: Quote No. 1: 9%d. per lb. (delivered store, Sydney), medium quality.

Quote No. 2: 10y 4 d.-lld. per lb. (delivered store, Sydney). Quote No. 3: Sales recently at 9Vz- 9 5 / B d. per lb., c.i.f., Sydney.

New Caledonia: It is expected that the New Caledonian Government’s plan to grade the Colony’s 1941-42 coffee crop will have the effect of increasing prices. At present New Caledonian coffee varies considerably, and each parcel must be treated on its merits. Quotations from several different sources in November were:— Quote No. 1 (in store, Sydney): Arabica, Grade “A”, UVad.-l/-; “B”, 10 7 / B d.; Robusta, 9%d.lOd. Quote No. 2 (c.i.f. and e., Sydney): Robusta, 4d. per lb; Arabica, 6d. per lb. Quote No. 3 (c.i.f., Sydney): Arabica, Bd. per lb.; Robusta, 4d. per lb. Quote No. 4 (c.i.f., Syd ney); Arabica, £56-£6O per ton; Robusta, £34- £4O per ton. Quote No. 5 (c.i.f., Sydney); Robusta, £37-£39 per ton.

New Hebrides (c.i.f,, Sydney); Quote No. 1: £36 per ton. Quote No. 2: £37-£39 per ton.

Quote No. 3: £3O-£33 a ton (f.a.q.), c.i.f. and e., Sydney. [Note: Importers of all coffees —except NG and Papuan—pay additional charges, Including exchange, duty (4.4 d. lb.), primage (11 per cent.), landing costs (1/- per cwt.), war duty (10 per cent.)]

Vanilla Beans

Tahiti: Quote No. 1 (c. & f., Sydney): Approxi mate market price, white label, 28/- a lb.; green label. 21/- a lb. Quote No. 2 (c.i.f., Sydney); White label and yellow label, S2/-32/6 per lb.

Quote No. 3: This agent reports a firm market for first-grade beans.

Kapok

Quote No. 1: Average Java 6-17/32d. per lb., c.i.f.; Prime Japara, 6-7/32d. per lb., c.i.f.

Quote No. 2: Average Java, 7 5 /sd., c.i.f.; Prime Japara, 7-15/16d., c.i.f. (Prices sterling and subject to exchange 25V2%, duty 2d. per lb., 10% primage, 10% war duty, wharfage.)

Ivory Nuts

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

Cotton

New Caledonian, c.i.f., Sydney. Quote No. 1: 9d. per lb. Quote No. 2: lOd.-lld. per lb. Quote No. 3 (delivered store, Sydney): lOd.-lld. (approximate market price) per lb.

Cocoa

New Guinea cocoa; Quote No 1: £49 per ton —market rising. Quote No. 2: £5O-£52 per ton.

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Accra (West Africa): £5O per ton, c.i.f., Sydney.

New Hebrides cocoa (delivered store, Sydney): Quote No. 1; £52 per ton Quote No. 2; £5O - per ton. Quote No. 3: Ist Grade, £47-£49 per ton, c.i.f., Sydney. Market firm. Quote No. 4: £5O-£53 per ton.

Western Samoan cocoa: Quote No. 1: £6O per ton, c.i.f., Sydney. Quote No. 2: Price at Apia, September, £32/10/- per ton for small European lots.

Rice

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

Rangoon rice, packed in 100 lb. bags £2l/10/- per ton; 200 lb. sacks, £2l per ton.

Trochus Shell

Sales have taken place recently at the following prices; Quote No. 1; Good average parcel of mixed grades, £4B per ton. Quote No. 2: Mixed parcels, £5O. Quote No. 3: “A”

Grade, £56; “B” Grade, £46/10/-; “C” Grade, £B7/10/-. Quote No. 4: “A”, £57; “B”, £49; “C”, £37. Quote No. 5 (Nominal); “A”! £54; “B”, £46; “C”, £34. Quote No. 6: Mixed parcels, £5O. Quote No. 7: £6O for mixed parcels.

Green Snail Shell

Sales of green snail shell were made recently in Sydney at the following prices:—Ist grade £62 a ton; mixed parcel, £5B/10/- a ton!

Another agent reported sales of a good quality shell recently atr* £66 a ton. Quote No 3- Quote No - 4: £5O-£55. Quote No. 5 < N - nebndes, Solomon Is., N. Caledonian shell): £66/10/- a ton. f.o.b. Sydney market firm. Quote No- 6; Good grade BSI shell, approximately £6O-£65 a ton, f.0.b.. Sydney. This agent states that markets and freights are changing periodic ally. Quote No. 7: £66-£67 a ton. Quote No. 8 (nominal): £64 a ton.

Mother Of Pearl Shell

Thursday Is. MOP, c.i.f., Sydney. Grade “AA” £202 per ton; Grade “A”, £202; Grade , B"’ £202; Grade "DD”, £128; Grade “D” £ll7 - ' Grade “E”, £7B.

Peanuts

New Guinea peanuts; Unshelled, 2%d. per lb • shelled, 4 3 / 4 d. per lb.

Dr. G. H. Vemon, well-known Govern ment Medical Officer at Misima Island, Papua, recently made an extended medi cal survey in the Northern Division of the Territory prior to his departure for Australia on leave.

Exchange Rates

r T' HE following exchange quotations, gathered A in Sydney, show the rate existing in mid- November:—

Fiji

Through Bank of NSW and Bank of New Zealand:— Australia on Fiji on basis of £100 Fiji. Buying, £Alll/2/6; selling, £A113 Fiii- London on basis £100 London:

New Guinea And Papu£

Through Commonwealth Bank and Bank of NSW:—Australia on Port Moresby and Samarai Papua, 10/- per cent.; on Rabaul, NG, 10/- per cent.—other Papua and New Guinea districts, £1 per cent.

Rabaul on London, same as Australia on London:— Buying: T.T. £A125 equals £stg. 100 Selling; T.T. £A125/10/- equals £stg. 100.

Western Samoa

Through Bank of New Zealand:— Australia on Western Samoa, basis £100 Samoa—buying £ A99/12/6; selling, £A100/2/6. Samoa on London, basis £100 in London;—

New Caledonia And Tahiti

London banks nowadays are not quoting on Paris; therefore the rates furnished to the “PIM” by the Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris, Sydney, and the Bank of NSW are no longer available. Most of the business between the Free French Colonies in the Pacific and Australia is being done in Australian currency; but there is in existence an unofficial, fluctuat ing rate of between 140 and 143.5 francs to the Australian £.

Buying.

Selling. £ s. d. £ s. d.

Telegraphic transfer . .. 110 15 0 112 0 0 On demand 111 17 6

Buying. Selling.

Telegraphic transfer — £125 10 0 On Demand £122 18 9 125 7 6 30 days 122 8 9 125 2 6 60 days 121 18 9 124 17 6 90 days 121 8 9 124 12 6 120 days 120 18 9