Australian Copra Price

Papuan Planter's Experience

Letter to the Editor fIIHE price of uncontrolled copra on the X -world market is over £7O per .ton But Papuan and New Guinea pro ducers must accept a price based on a £2B per ton market. Perhaps it may in terest your readers to hear of my experi ence in producing copra in Papua. Prior to being evacuated in February 1942, I had been a resident of_ Papua for 30 years.

In December, 1916 , I made one of a syndicate to go in for coconut planting, and we selected land on Normaijby Island, which is one of the D’Entrecasteaux Group. Our port for obtaining stores and shipping copra is Samarai, in China Strait. I give a few figures, and the years I mention are the only ones I have a record of:—

This enterprise owed me £1204/1/6, not including interest.

In December, 1945, I drew my first divi dend, 29 years after making my first pay ment towards the venture, and the amount was £36/5/2. On May 31, 1946 I received a similar amount, being a payment for the year ended December 31, 1945. This means that after 29 years I have received £72/10/4 in dividends.

During the years when copra was below the cost of production, the planters of Papua did not seek a subsidy from the Commonwealth Government to enable them to carry on. Each company or in dividual made its own financial arrange ments.

It is unbelievable that now when the open market price is £7O per ton. we have to accept £2R per ton. In the future, copra again may drop below the cost of produc tion. Will the Commonwealth Govern ment then come to our assistance with a subsidy? Perhaps now they will guaran tee us a payable figure for the next 10 years.

Certainly, we do not pay income tax, but that is because we do not have the franchise. But we are not tax-free. Most of our imports, including those from Aus tralia, are subject to duty.

I am, etc.

Percy J. Wood

Brisbane 17/5/47.

Landed cost per Average price ton in Samarai received £ s. d. £ s. d. 1934 5 17 0 4 18 8 1935 6 16 10 9 10 4 1936 7 16 9 12 14 1 1937 8 6 0 14 2 11 1938 10 5 0 6 15 2 1939 10 2 8 7 3 0