Inferior Copra Shipped From

N.Guinea Administration Warns Planters UK Price May Fall

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, Feb. 2

THE Administration has warned Papua- New Guinea copra producers that, unless the quality of their copra im proves, the British Food Ministry may ask for a reduced price when the United Kingdom agreement is reviewed shortly The agreement, which covers a period of nine years, provides for an annual review of the price.

According to a statement by the P-NG Government Secretary’s Department, the British Food Ministry has found that, in general, Territory copra is below pre-war standard. The statement adds: “Ship ments received show extreme variation in the size of individual pieces, with a con siderable percentage of decomposed and overheated copra. It is somewhat similar in grade to mixed Dutch East Indies copra. While the United Kingdom agree ment assures the Territory industry of a firm market during the currency of the agreement, the development and main tenance of good standards of quality is of obvious importance. It is of immediate importance in regard to prices owing to the provisions in the agreement for pre miums or rebates according to quality.”

The Administration says that it intends to start copra inspections as soon as pos sible, but meanwhile producers could do much to improve their copra. “Unless this is done,” says the Administration, “the Commonwealth Government may find itself at a disadvantage when the agreement comes up for review shortly.”

Carelessness by some producers and the shipping shortage are blamed by the Pro duction Control Board for the drop in quality. The Board says some producers apparently are being careless about super vising the curing of their copra. Also, in areas short of shipping, the piled-up copra is deteriorating before it ‘reaches collection centres. Producers should re condition this copra shortlv before it is shipped, says the Board. The Board re conditions some copra itself for a small fee but cannot cope with all the inferior copra it is getting.

Although copra production is rising steadily, it is still many thousands of tons below pre-war figures. In the year which ended June, 1949, PCB received 48,000 tons in Papua and New Guinea. (Exports from NG in 1938-39, 73,345 tons; from Papua, 1936-37, 13,600 tons).