Copra Price And

Devaluation

Letter to the Editor MR. SULLIVAN’S letter (April PIM) clearly covers the copra situation and you may rest assured that we in Fiji are most interested in the first three questions raised by New Guinea planters for Mr. Spender’s consideration.

It is, indeed, a peculiar anomaly that such a commodity as coffee, for example, should have received the necessary price adjustment following last year’s devalua tion of sterling, while such an adjustment in regard to copra, a powerful dollar earner, has been discreetly ignored.

No doubt the British Ministry of Food was making a handsome profit out of buying and reselling copra prior to the devaluation of sterling; and, since de valuation they can add an extra 30 per cent, to their profits, which should, of course, be rightfully passed on to the producer, who, since devaluation, finds production costs, maintenance and cost of living soaring.

As all our imports come from the sterl ing zone, prices have risen accordingly, with no compensation granted to the copra planter, who, whether he likes it or not is contributing a great deal to Britain’s dollar reserve.

It seems that the Ministry of Food lost the trust and goodwill of most copra planters when, at the end of 1949, in the face of a rising market for copra and de spite the devaluation of the pound, they made their initial offer of £45 sterling per ton for the 1950 price.

The question arises as to just how much profit the MOF want out of their dealings with us.

It is gratifying to know that people in other territories are raising their voices

in protest, and it is to be hoped that Australian producers, through their new “Free Enterprise Government” may achieve a revision in the price of Pacific copra.

As nearly all of the copra planters in Fiji are either native Fijian or Euro peans they are far less vociferous in their demands, than say, the Indian sugar pro ducers, and are consequently more im posed upon.

There is invariably in this Colony much talk about safeguarding and im proving the lot of the Fijian, such talk usually emanating from the Govern ment. As the only cash crop an average Fijian ever has is copra, here then is an excellent opportunity for Government to exert themselves on the Fijian’s behalf, even if they care little about the Euro pean planters, who nevertheless contri bute more than heavily to the revenue and prosperity of Fiji.

I am, etc.,

C. J. T. Krone.

Taveuni, Fiji, June 3, 1950.