Developmental Plans For Papua

New Guinea

Government May Retain Control Over Copra Production and Sale

A MINISTERIAL announcement ex plaining plans for a widespread development scheme in Papua-New Guinea, and an organisation to take the place of the Production Control Board (which now buys and sells all copra) has been expected during the past fortnight.

It may be made when the Minister (Mr.

Ward) moves the second reading of the Papua-New Guinea Bill in the present session of the Australian Parliament.

A sub-committee of the Australian Cabinet is understood to have approved of a plan under which the Government will retain control of the production and distribution of copra in Papua-New Guinea, in spite of the winding up of the PCB. It is expected that the private firms will be allowed to resume trade in copra, but under some form of control.

Present control of all exports under license will be continued. Negotiations are in progress with Great Britain for a guaranteed copra price. It will be below the present world rate, because it is feared copra prices may slump, and the Government claims it will be preferable to have a guaranteed price for some years ahead, even at rates below those ruling in the open market.

The PCB now pays NG producers £4O/17/6, in Rabaul. It bears the fol lowing costs: Export duty, £3/1/6; stab ilisation fund, £B/5/-; freight Rabaul- Aust., £3/6/0; handling, etc., £5/10/0; total, £2O/2/6; grand total, £6l. The copra is sold in Australia at £6l. It is expected that this PCB system will con tinue until the end of the year.

It is practically certain that the copra stabilisation scheme will be continued.

The copra trade is largely antipathetic to this, but Government circles claim it is the only safe way to guard against a slump in prices.

The Copra Stabilisation Fund is fin anced by a levy of £B/5/0 a ton on all copra produced. This year’s production will be about 40,000 tons. The fund at present contains about £200,000. No one knows who controls it or how the money is being employed.

Plans by a private company for instal lation of a copra crushing plant in New Guinea will almost certainly be approved, but this scheme is unlikely to be imple mented until there is some diminution of the present world demand for raw copra.

The Government has decided to en courage co-operative enterprises among natives and others in New Guinea, and a special section of the External Territories Department will supervise these activi ties, through a branch of the NG Denartment of Agriculture. (See October

“Pim.”)

Plans are also in hand to make the Territory more self supporting. It is proposed to experiment with sheep, as described elsewhere. Six thousand pigs will soon be distributed among natives, who will be instructed in pig breeding, and encouraged to make use of boars which will be made available by the Administration. The pigs are now being carried to Papua-New Guinea by plane.

Five hundred acres of land are being planted experimentally with tea, and an expert curator is being sought.

British doctors and dentists will also be invited to take up practice, as Gov ernment employees, in New Guinea.