Price Of Gold

Copra

Copra Prices During World War Ii

The copra market was controlled by Govern ments from outbreak of war in 1939 until the end of the war in 1945. Controls are still being exercised in the post-war period.

London Fixed Price, per ton, c.i.f., Plantation Hot-air:

September 6, 1948. —British Ministry of Food has offered choice of two new contract prices for Fiji copra: 1. —1949-51 period: £5l sterling for 1949; 1950-51, £43 sterling. 2.-1949-57 period: £4B sterling for 1949, then probably 10 per cent, up or down for each succeeding year, to be arranged by negotiation. Fiji planters are now considering which offer to accept.

Territory Of New Guinea

ANGPCB Fixed Price, Delivered to Ship’s Slings:

Papuan Rubber Prices

During World War 11, Papua’s rubber pro duction was controlled by the Australian Govern ment. The following were the fixed prices pay able at the plantation, per lb., in Australian currency:—

Current Rates Since the price control on rubber was lifted, most Australian trading firms are using the Singapore day-to-day quotations when buying Papuan rubber. The Singapore Exchange gives buying prices for four grades and average rates ruling in mid-September, were:— No. 1 RSS, loose, 44V 8 cents, lb. (1/3.12d Aust.).

No. 1 RSS, baled, 43Ts cents, lb. (1/3.04d. Aust.).

No. 2 RSS, baled, 42 cents, lb. (1/2.4d. Aust.).

No. 3 RSS, baled, 39' 7 /8 cents, lb. (1/1.52d. Aust.).

Pins Standard oz. ., £10/15/3 oz £9/17/3% (Australian Currency)

Sterling October, 1939 —January, 1940 £12 7 6 January-April, 1940 13 5 0 After April, 1940 .. 12 17 6 Fiji Local Buying Price in Store, Fiji Currency, Plant’n

Pms

June, 1942 £16 0 0 £15 0 0 July. 1942 16 12 6 15 12 6 June, 1944 19 10 0 18 0 0 October, 1944 . . 20 0 0 18 10 0 December, 1945 19 7 6 17 17 6 January, 1946 .. 18 5 6 18 0 0 August, 1946 . . 23 10 6 23 5 0 February, 1947 . .. 29 15 6 29 10 0 June 9, 1947 .. 36 19 0 36 13 6 December 8, 1947 . 38 5 6 38 0 0 March 15, 1948 .. 46 5 6 46 0 0

Jan. 7, 1947 ..

Hot-air Smoked £28 0 0 £27 0 0 June 17. 1947 . £31 2 0 Nov. 23, 1947 , £35 10 0 April 8, 1948 . . £42- £45 All prices quoted (According to quality) are for copra delivered to ship’s slings, or to the Board’s warehouse.

Official Price for NG Copra sold in Sydney, January, 1947 .

Hot-air Dried Smoked .. £36 10 0 £35 10 0 July, 1947 . .. , . £51 5 0 £50 5 0 April, 1948 . .. £61 0 0 £60 0 0

Rubber

Plantation London Para.

Smoked Price on per lb. per lb.

January 6. 1933 4%d .. 2.43d July 7 . 5%d .. 3.71d January 5, 1934 4‘Ad .. 4.28d July 6 5‘/ 2 d .. 7.06d January 4, 1935 5d .. 6%d July 5 5d .. 7 7 / s d January 3. 1936 6%d . . 63/ed June 5 9d . . 7‘Ad January 8, 1937 1/2 .. 10‘/ 2 d June 4 lid .. 9 5 /sd January 7, 1938 7‘Ad .. 7d July 1 . 6%d .. 7‘Ad January 6, 1939 7d . . 8‘/sd July 7 . 7 3 Ad .. 8‘Ad January 5, 1940 13d .. 11.6 7 /sd July 5 . 15d .. 12 3 Ad January 3. 1941 13d .. 12.47 7 / 8 d April 4 15d . . 14‘/ad June 6 16‘/ 2 d . . 13.5%d August 1 ., 17d . . 13‘/ 2 d October 10 —Price officially fixed at .. 13 3 Ad

„ , . Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 September, 1943 .. 1/6V2 1/4 1/2 September. 1944 .. 1/6% 1/5K 1/3% July, 1944 i/4y 2 1/3 y 2 1/v/2