Shortage of Bags

Forecast

THE Australian Minister for Agricul ture has warned Australian farmers that there is likely to be a shortage of corn-sacks and other jute bags this year. This will, of course, affect copra planters in Australian Territories.

Recent devaluation of the Indian cur rency in relation to Pakistan has ac centuated the trouble of supplies but trade differences between the two coun tries have made the bag and sack po sition acute for some time. Pakistan grows the jute fibre, but it is manu factured into bags, woolpacks, hessian and similar goods in India.

In the April PIM it was reported that experimental plantings of jute had al ready been made in New Guinea with gratifying success. It appears that the sooner the industry is established there on a commercial footing the better it will be for Territory and Australian pri mary producers.