Raw Deal for the New Guinea

Planters

UPON learning of the extraordinary high price of copra on the free mar ket (it had risen in Manila to over £75 Australian per ton FOB on April 10), the “PIM” tried to induce some Aus tralian official to explain why the Aus tralian Government will not pay the New Guinea planter more than £2B Australian per ton—which is more than £4O under the free market price, and from £lO to £l5 under the British controlled price.

The Australian officials either would not talk, or had no explanation to offer.

However, we did ascertain the following facts: ■ The Australian price is fixed by the Australian-New Guinea Production Con trol Board, in consultation with the Aus tralian Minister for External Territories (Mr. Ward). ■ The whole of the New Guinea pro duction—which does not exceed 10,000 tons per annum (compared with 75,000 tons pre war) —is consumed in Australia. ■ The rate is being kept at its present level, because any increase in the amount paid to planters would automatically raise the price of soap, margarine, etc., against the Australian consumer.

The New Guinea planter is being com pelled to accept the Australian fixed price because he has the privilege of living in an Australian Territory under an Aus tralian Socialist Government; and because he is free of taxation. The fact that Australian-controlled prices do not apply in the Territory, so that what the planter saves in taxation he more than loses in the higher prices he must pay for essen tial goods and foodstuffs, apparently is not taken into Canberra’s consideration.