Rubber Production In

Papua

rE following appeared in “Sydney Morning Herald” of September 13; “CANBERRA, Tuesday.—Rubber pro duction in New Guinea for 1943-44 increased by 30 per cent., but any surplus would have to go into the United Nations’ pool, the Minister for Supply and Ship ping, Mr. Beasley, said to-day.

“Mr. Beasley said that 1,816 tons of rubber were produced in New Guinea, according to a report from the Depart ment of External Territories.”

That is typical of modem journalistic blah-blah—especially when the reporter is trying to curry favour with a Minister.

It is written to suggest that (a) rubber production has increased 30 per cent, under the benevolent care of the Austra lian Labour Government; (b) Mr. Beas ley is in some way responsible for it.

Actually, credit for whatever increase there may be in rubber production goes to the enterprising planters who estab lished the new areas prior to the out break of war; there was bound to be an increase in production compared with the previous two years, during which the Territory was torn by invasion and war; there is not one word about the compara tive cost of production, under the present top-heavy Army set-up; and Mr. Beasley has nothing more to do with rubber pro duction in “New Guinea” than he has with tea production in Ceylon—as is clear from the fact that he talks about rubber coming from New Guinea, when every school-boy knows that it is Papua, not New Guinea, which produces rubber.