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. Some controls are still being exercised in the post-war period.

Fiji Local Buying Price, in Store, Fiji Currency.

From January 1, 1949, the British Ministry of Food is buying Fiji copra at the above fixed price. For each subsequent year, until the end of 1957. the price will be adjusted by nego tiation.

New Hebrides From a maximum of £7O/12/6 (Aust.), per ton, in 1948, the price of New Hebrides copra recently firmed to around £5O ( lust.) per ton.

Western Samoa Canadian buyers recently were paying £53 (£66 Aust.) per ton in Apia for Samoan copra.

Samoa has a 10 years’ contract agreement with the UK Government, thereby stabilising the industry.

Territory Of Papua-New Guinea

ANGPCB Fixed Price, Delivered to Ship’s Slings:

All prices quoted are for copra delivered to ship’s slings, or to the Board’s warehouse.

Official Price for P-NG Copra sold in Sydney:

Australia has agreed to sell a proportion of P-NG’s copra production annually to the UK Ministry of Pood, for a period of nine years, at fixed prices For 1949, the price to the UK will be £4B Stg. per ton, f.0.b.. Territory ports; the price for each subsequent year will be adjusted by negotiation. Territories’ planters, during 1949, are receiving £4B Aust. per ton for this copra.

June, 1942 Plantation £16 0 0 £15

Fms

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 January 1, 1949’ .. 49 10 6 49 5 0

Hot-air Smoked Jan. 7, 1947 .. . £28 0 0 £27 0 0 June 17, 1947 ... £31 2 0 Nov. 23, 1947 ... £35 10 0 April 8, 1948 ... £40-£45 January 1, 1949: — Pt. Moresby . £48 0 0 £47 7 6 Samarai .. .. £48 0 0 £47 7 6 Madang . .. £48 0 0 £47 7 6 Rabaul .. .. £48 0 0 £47 7 6 Kokopo .. .. £46 17 6 £46 5 0 Kavieng ... £45 17 6 £45 5 0

Hot-air Dried Smoked January, 1947 . .. £36 10 0 £35 10 0 July. 1947 . .. .. £51 5 0 £50 5 0 April, 1948 . . . .. £61 0 0 £60 0 0 April, 1949 . . . .. £66 0 0 £65 7 6 May, 1949 1 . .. £66 10 0 £65 17 6