Bad Bsi Copra: Planters’
p. 67 · Read in the full issue
Defence
(A Letter to the Editor)
THE Solomon Islands planter finds the going very tough these days, and envies his brother planters in more favoured parts of the Pacific.
Our latest “smack in the eye” is a sudden blitz by the local Department of Agriculture at Honiara on the quality of copra being sent in. Some planters have had many hundreds of bags “knocked back” in one go.
The 8.5.1. P. Government employs native “inspectors,” There was room for much improvement in the quality of 8.5.1. P. copra and no one knew that more than the planters. However, Government policy in recent years appeared to put a premium on slip-shod methods. Native produced copra was lumped in and shipped side by side with plantation-pro duced copra. No attempt at grading was made, and branding of bags by planters was considered to be just a fad.
Nevertheless, to give a native “inspec tor” the right arbitrarily to reject thousands of pounds’ worth of copra, against a planter who was making good quality copra probably before the said native was born, is “going too far too fast!”
However, if the nlanters consider them selves unjustly treated in the matter they have the remedy in their own hands.
There is more than one firm in Sydney prepared to accept copra of all grades and process same on a cost per ton basis. As the 8.5.1. P. planters, unlike other planters elsewhere, did not approve and did not accept the nine-years’ British Ministry of Food agreement, it does not appear that there could be any valid 8.5.1. P. Govern ment objection to this being done. In addition, there are overseas markets ready and willing to purchase 8.5.1. P. copra at much better overall prices than the local Trade Scheme (8.5.1. P. Government agency) has ever offered.
One 'of the main factors operating against the production of high-gyade copra is the “don’t give a damn whether we work or not” attitude of casual labour.
I am, etc.,