Penalty for Excessive
pp. 81-82 · Read in the full issue
Improving Fiji’S
Copra
Penalty for Excessive Moisture
THE Fiji Copra Board has given notice that from October 15, 1950, a re duced price will be paid for copra containing more than 10 per cent, of moisture. A total of 25/- a ton (15/- for moisture and 10/- penalty) will be de ducted from the amount paid for copra with a moisture content of over 10 per cent, and up to 125 per cent. A total of 57/6 a ton (47/6 for moisture and 10/penalty) will be deducted from the amount paid for copra with a moisture content of over 125 per cent, and up to 15 per cent.
The Board will not buy copra contain ing over 15 per cent, of moisture.
This statement of policy by the Board recalls that it was decided at a meeting in September, 1949, that in the interests of the copra industry some control be exercised over the excessive water con tent of copra offered to the Board for purchase. It was agreed, however, that before bringing these proposals into force, the moisture meters which are installed at Suva and Levuka should be thoroughly tested in order to decide if their record ings were reliable.
During the past nine months these meters have been under the close ob servation of officers of the Board and the Senior Chemist of the Department of Agriculture and have proved satisfactory.
From October 15 they will be used to de termine the moisture in all copra parcels.
The Board believes that a figure of 10 per cent, moisture content can be at tained by any producer who takes care in the preparation of copra.
The prices for FMS grade copra bought by the Board at Suva or Levuka from October 15 will be: — £4B/10/- a ton for copra with a mois ture content of up to 10 per cent. £47/5/0 a ton for copra with a mois ture content of over 10 per cent, and up to 125 per cent. £45/12/6 a ton for copra with a mois ture content of over 125 per cent, and up to 15 per cent.
Mr. L. C. Bentley, of the Suva firm of Pearce & Company, has gone to the United Kingdom on a business visit. Mrs.
Bentley accompanied him. They will re turn via Canada and Australia.
The Rev. H. K. Bartlett, who was for 14 years a missionary in Papua, has been appointed to succeed the Rev. A. H.
Scriven early next year as Secretary of the Foreign Mission Department of the Methodist Church of NZ. The NZ Methodists are responsible for the main tenance of Methodist Mission stations in the BSI, Bougainville and Buka. For the past six years Mr. Bartlett has been organising secretary for Methodist over seas missions in South Australia.