Islands Produce

DURING the past month there has been little variation in prices ruling for the limited' supply of Islands produce coming to hand.

Trochus and Green Snail shell are exceptions; substantial advances having been recorded in each instance. Governmental control, however, has stabilised prices for most lines. The follow ing nominal prices were ruling in mid-October;—

Cocoa

New Hebrides: Quote No. 1: £7O (in store, Sydney), Quote No. 2; £65 to £7O (c.i.f.).

Accra: £75 (in store, Sydney).

New Guinea cocoa beans: No quotations.

Western Samoa; Sales reported, Ist quality, £BO (f.0.b., Apia).

Coffee

No purchases are now permitted without the consent of the Tea and Coffee Control Board, to whom all offers must first be submitted.

Nominal quotations as follows: New Caledonian: Arabica, £75 per ton (c.i.f, Sydney). Robusta, £65 per ton (c.i.f. Sydney).

New Hebrides: Robusta, £5B to £65 per ton (c.i.f. Sydney).

Kenya and Mysore: £BO per ton (c.i.f. stg. and War Risk Insurance).

New Guinea and Papuan: No firm quotations available.

Java: No quotations.

Vanilla Beans

White Label: 31/6 per lb., C. & F., Sydney.

Green Label: 26/- per lb., C. & F., Sydney.

Kapok

Indian kapok is being quoted for indent at lid. per lb. c.i.f. stg.

Market for Javanese kapok has been suspended.

Cotton

New Caledonia: Quote No. 1: 9y 2 d. to 10V 2 d. lb (c.i.f., Sydney). Quote No. 2: 9d. to loy 2 d. (c.i.f., Sydney).

Ivory Nuts

No firm quotations available.

Trochus Shell

Recent sale f.a.q. £lO3 per ton, in store.

Sydney.

Rice

As a result of war conditions in the Far East, the market for Rangoon rice has been suspended.

Green Snail Shell

Small parcel sold recently at £ 103 per ton (f.a.q.) in store, Sydney.

Pearl Shell

Government-controlled price:— “B” Class, £2OO per ton. “C” Class, £l9O per ton. “D” Class, £135 per ton.