Cost Of A Rubber
p. 32 · Read in the full issue
Estate
T R E following extract from the “PIM” of August, 1941, may be of interest to many who have already expressed a determination to return to New Guinea after the war and “start a rubber plantation” In mak ing any calculations it would be as well to remember the comparative prices of goods as they probably will be in the post-war period, as against those that prevailed in the seven years prior to 1941.
HOW much does it cost to bring a rubber plantation to the productive stage, in New Guinea and Papua?
Some estimates go to £5O and £6O per acre.
As the question often is asked, we have taken the liberty of extracting some figures from the annual report and balance sheet of Mororo Rubber Estates, Ltd., a small Papuan concern of which Mr. G. A. Loudon is chairman.
The estate comprises 579 acres of lease hold, held on 99 years’ lease; and 330 acres have been planted with rubber trees, and are densely cover-cropped with Centrosema. A nursery has been established, containing 10,000 plants.
There are suitable buildings and roads.
Details of costs up to date are as follow: The Company’s prospectus provided for estimates as under:— (1) Felling, planting and covercropping, £6 per acre. (2) Weeding and maintenance, £l/10/per acre. (3) Seven years to bring to production at total cost of £25 per acre.
The Co. now has arrived at the stage where it has expended £3,765 on 330 acres, equal to £ll/2/9 per acre.
How much money must it yet find to bring the 330 acres into production?
Here is the calculation:— £ 130 acres planted 1938/9 by Vendor will require 4 years’ weeding and maintenance at 30/- acre -780 100 acres planted in April, 1940, will require 6 years’ weeding and maintenance at 30/- acre ... 900 100 acres planted in April, 1941, will require 7 years’ weeding and maintenance at 30/- acre . .. 1,050 2,730 Plant, tools and sundries to bring to production 195 Total of money still to be spent .. 2,925 Already expended as per Balance Sheet at April, 1941 3,675 Total to bring plantation to production 6,600 Which is equal to cost of £2O per acre.
Mr. R. C. Savage, who has been wire less officer on Mangaia, Cook Inlands, since 1932, left recently, accompanied by his wife and family, to take up new duties as Resident Agent at Puka Puka in the Northern Cooks. He is the son of the late Mr. Stephen Savage, who was well-known as a Government official in Rarotonga.
Three sons of Mr. C. S. Gilfillan, for merly manager of the Qaranaqio rubber estates in Fiji, and now of New Zealand, are serving with the NZEF. All three of the boys were born in Fiji, and one of them, Pte. W. M. Gilfillan, was one of the first five to land on Mono Island, Treasury Group, BSI.