Copra

Higher Rotes in Fiji

IT was officially announced on May 20, in Suva, that the f.o.b. price of copra, in Suva or Levuka, as from May 21 / would be increased by 45/-, plus 15/-, Fijian (60/- altogether) per ton. The new rates are: Fijian Australian or Currency. N Z Currency.

Per Ton. Per Ton.

Plantation grade £2O 5 0 £22 15 7 FMS grade ... 18 15 0 21 2 0 These rates, presumably, now will gov ern the price of copra in other Pacific Territories.

The British Ministry of Food controls the price paid in Fiji for copra, and the world price generally. Fiji copra is taken over and shipped by the Fiji Supply and Production Board, the chief executive officer of which is Dr. Jack, now Con troller of Production and Marketing, and normally head of the Department of Agriculture. The Board represents the British Ministry in Fiji,-and thus deals with sugar, as well as copra.

The price of copra in Fiji, for the past two years, has borne no relation to the law of supply and demand. Ever since Japan over-ran the Philippines and Netherlands Indies, the world has been desperately short of copra. The British Ministry, after consultation with the United States, now has agreed that the price allowed planters in Fiji should be raised 45/- per ton, to £l9/10/- for First and £lB for Second Grade.

The Fiji Supply and Production Board, having bought at the old fixed prices, and sold in a very hungry market, has accu mulated a surplus of £15,000, during the past two years. It has decided to dis pose of this by adding a further 15/per ton to the newly-announced prices, thus bringing the rates up to those shown in the above table. It is thought that the Board will be able to pay the 15/bonus for about 12 months.

At first glance, this method of dispos ing of the accumulated surplus seems unfair. It should go to the producers of the past two years, rather than to future producers. But practical difficulties make the first method impossible. Much of the 1942-44 copra came from small native producers, who sold it in very small amounts to Fijian and Chinese buyers, who in turn sent it on to the bigger firms in the towns. The extra money could not be got back to the actual producers.

It is hoped that the widening of the margin between the two grades of copra, from 20/- to 30/- per ton, will encourage the production of the better grade.