Copra Price Up

Again

Ministry of Food Increases for Fiji but New Guinea Price Remains Lowest in the World

THE British Ministry of Food has noti fied the Fiji Government that from September 29, 1946, it will pay £2/18/6 (F) more per ton for Fiji copra.

This brings the price of copra in the Colony, up to £26/9/- per ton for planta tion grade, and £26/3/6 for FMS grade, delivered to Suva or Levaku. In Aus tralian currency this is euivalent to £29/9/- for FMS.

In New Guinea, planters are still receiving £22/10/- (Australian) per ton on the beach, from the Production Con trol Board.

Presumably the discrepancy is to be explained by PCB handling charges. But even in New Guinea, with its inflated charges and fantastic shipping facilities, transport and handling between planta tion and shioping port can scarcely be reckoned at £7 ner ton.

Where, then, does the extra PCB profit go? PCB price is at least £5 below world parity.

We have repeatedly asked responsible Australian officials why this anomaly is permitted, and how long it will continue; but we got either an evasive answer, or no answer at all.* The Department would be making nor mally, thousands of pounds upon the copra thus taken from growers and sold overseas —but it isn’t, simply because the Territ ories planters are so beset by lack of lab onr and other handicaps that they can produce little copra.

If there had been anything like normal production upon Territories plantations, it might have been necessary to appeal to the Australian Parliament to force the Department to revise the PCB’s copra price. As it is, Canberra has got private enterprise and industry in the Territories into such a condition of chaos and depres sion that the rates allowed for produce are scarcely worth worrying about.

Outlook For Rubber

Papuan planters are doing better with rubber. Those places which still have a labour line are getting high prices for their product. But Australian merchants take a gloomy view of rubber’s future.

The continued production of synthetic, perfected during the war, is helping to meet a huge market; the production of natural rubber is increasing every month; and some people believe that, before 1947 is ended, rubber prices will be back to pre-1939 levels. *As we go to press, it is announced from Canberra that the PCB price is now being “thoroughly investigated.” (See page (5.)