Islands Produce

"IMPORTANT matters concerning the future price and distribution of New Hebrides cocoa beans in Australia are at present receiving the attention of the Cocoa, Chocolate and Confec tionery Committee. Sydney agents are anxiously awaiting details of the proposed new control arrangements, which it is hoped will assure the satisfactory conversion of parcels of New Hebrides beans forwarded by planters to cover their Australian buying orders. Produce prices generally remained unchanged during the past month. The following nominal quotations were obtained in mid-December:—

Cocoa

New Hebrides: £6B (in store,Sydney).

Accra: £69/10/- (on wharf, Sydney, all charges paid).

New Guinea cocoa beans: No quotations.

Western Samoa: Last sale 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, £Bl per ton (c.i.f.

Sydney), Robusta, £63 per ton (c.i.f. Sydney).

New Hebrides: Robusta, £63 per ton (c.i.f.

Sydney).

Mysore: £240 (c. & f. Sydney).

New Guinea and Papuan: No firm quotations available.

Java: No quotations.

Vanilla Beans

White Label, 15/6 per lb.; Green Label, 13/per lb.; c. & f. Sydney (Aust. currency).

Kapok

Market for Javanese kapok has been suspended.

Indian kapok is being quoted for indent at 1/6 per lb. c.i.f. stg.

Cotton

Government controlled. Stocks being made available to manufacturers at following rates:— For spinning and weaving yarns, 14y 2 d. per lb.; cordage making, ll%d. per lb.; condenser yam, 12d. per lb.

Ivory Nuts

No firm quotations available.

Trochus Shell

F.a.q., £lOB per ton, in store, Sydney.

Rice

No quotations.

Green Snail Shell

F.a.q., £lO3 per ton, in store, Sydney.

Pearl Shell

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