Rubber

Copra

(MOP price) .. 53 14 3 Since January 1, 1949, the British Ministry of Food has had a 9-years’ contract with the Fiji Government to buy the Colony’s copra at fixed prices yearly. Each year until 1958, the price will be adjusted by negotiation.

New Hebrides Prom a maximum of £7O/12/6 (Aust.), per ton, in 1948, the price of New Hebrides copra has firmed to £AS9 per ton.

Western Samoa Samoa has a 10 years’ contract agreement with the UK Government —exporters during 1949 received £45 Samoan per ton (an additional £3 per ton being held by the Copra Board towards a Stabilisation Fund).

French Oceania Papeete firms are paying planters 9,350 francs per 1,000 kilos for Tahiti copra, which goes either direct to France or to Canada for crushing.

Territory Of Papua-New Guinea

ANGPCB Fixed Price. Delivered to Ship’s Slings or to the Board’s warehouse.

From March, 1949, Australia agreed to sell a proportion of P-NG’s production annually to the UK Ministry of Pood, for nine years, at fixed prices. For 1949, the price to the UK was £4B Stg. per ton (planters received £4B Aust. per ton). The new 1950 price has been fixed at £4B/10/- Stg. per ton, f.o.b. Territories main ports.

Rubber

Since the Australian Government’s wartime price control on rubber was lifted, most Sydney trading firms use the London and Singapore day-to-day quotations as a basis when buying Papuan rubber.

An average rate during May for No. 1 grade RMA (Rubber Manufacturers’ Association) was: 24>d. Stg. per lb. (79% cents Singapore), equi valent to 30 5/32d. Aust. per lb.

Fiji Local Buying Price

in Store, Fiji Currency Plantation

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

January 1, 1949 ..

49 10 6 49 5 0 January 1, 1950

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 March 1, 1949:— Pt. Moresby . £48 0 0 £47 7 6 Samaral .. £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 May, 1950 . . £48 10 0 £47 7 6 (Main Ports) (Main Portsi The 1950 price is subject to a premium up to £1/5/- for superior grades.

Official Price for P-NG Copra sold in Sydney: 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 . .. .. £66 10 0 £65 17 6 May, 1950 £67 15 0 £67 2 6