Do You Remember?

THE files of the PIM of just 20 years ago show that in March, 1932, practically all of the Pacific Islands were convulsed by troubles of some sort—mostly economic. Governments had just then started to fiddle about with exchange and our editor was trying,

usually vainly, to explain to re

calcitrant producers how much their copra should be bringing them, or why it was not bringing them as

much as they thought it should.

Here are some other items of interest from PIM issue of 20 years back.

“A severe hurricane swept over the New Hebrides and New Caledonia on February 34. Damage was extensive, especially to Epi, NH, and to agricultural districts in central New Caledonia. As a result, 3,700 natives on Epi are destitute." * * * An air-freight war was reported from the Morobe district of New Guinea, where four air-freight companies, including the powerful Guinea Airways, were competing for business. Freight rates from Sala maua to Edie Creek, the last lap by road, were quoted at 6d per pound and there was some suspicion that one of the com panies was doing the job for as little as 4-3/3d per pound. The companies were running picnic and week-end air excur sions. * * * We reported that: “Officially. Fiji is not at all friendly to Australia because of the banana situation.” (Several months previously, Fiji had cut Australia out of the British preferential tariff in retaliation for Australia’s having shut Fiji bananas out of Australia. In March, 1933, Australian rice producers were threatened by an extension of this “war” to rice—they had recently been denied a profitable market for rice in New Caledonia but were competing for the Fiji market with a price of £ll per ton f.o.b. Sydney in favourable competition with Burma.

In some quarters in Fiji there were mur murings that Australia was “dumping” cheap rice in the Colony.) » * * “Everything is now in readiness on the New Guinea goldfields for the starting of the No. 1 dredge of Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd. The date for commencement is

March 31 and the official starting will performed by Brig.-General A. E. VVisdc Administrator of the Territory. 1 second dredge is being built and a th is on order/’ * * « A New r Britain reader wrote to els that he could make copra at £lO ton pay on a plantation producing tons per month. Actual cost of prod ing one ton of copra he put at £3/ per ton, made up as follows: Freight Rabaul, £l/5/-; 11 copra bags, 17 cutting the copra, 13/-; drying, 8/-; c§ ing, 3/6. PIM pointed out, editoria that he did not take management ci or interest on capital value into c sideration and that, on the figures, planter would probably live well, if plantation were well stocked, but wo not make more than £lOO per year, did not seem to think that this would enough, even in 1933 —but, of cou some planters were making very m less. * if * Under the heading, “Heavy Ban; Production Swamps NZ Market,” our correspondent said: “The Islands ban; industry is suffering from over-product; Tonga and Samoa have been poui bananas into the New Zealand mai which cannot stand the strain, shipment of 30,000 cases from Fiji the January Tofua was disastn Shippers received 3/- net per case that was completely absorbed by the < itself, which cost 1/6, and the exj tax of 6d per case.” He added, howe that in Fiji their heads might be bio but were still unbowed. * * « “The new Matson liners Mariposa Monterey will take over the Pacific ser from Sierra, Sonoma and Ventura in I this year. They will make the voy; San Francisco to Sydney, in 30 days, against the 36 days taken at present * * * During the month the price of rul in London “recovered” to 3-15/16d pound—it had been 2Vzd —and Austra rubber manufacturers were agitating the removal of the Id a pound imp* on all rubber imported except from Pa] Papua planters said that if the pre ential tariff were removed the indu in the Territory would collapse. Cosl production varied from 5.8 d per poun< 6.9 d, according to location of plantat