New Guinea Kenaf

Investigations Proceed

ERRITORIES Minister Paul Hasluck reported in mid- February on the results of an estigation of fibre-growing possi bles in the New Guinea area, de by American fibre expert J.

Dempsey in January. The lister also announced the nmonwealth Government’s atti le towards the prospective ustry.

Ir. Dempsey considered that as in New Guinea were suitable the growing of sisal, manila and

.af as rotational year-round

ps. übsequent conferences between Dempsey and Government and iness interests in Australia icated that there appeared to be d prospects for profitable pro tion of the three fibres, to meet American market and Aus ian needs. he Minister stated that the rernment would encourage pri s enterprise by making land liable, offerirtg technical advice, providing plants and seeds. »ital would, of course, have to be idded by private enterprise, ome kenaf seed and sisal plant j were available. Manila would be available for two years, he Government would continue make available results of re •ch into techniques and econo s of production and would lore, with private enterprise, the stion of establishing a kenaf ving industry in Australia, when fibre was available in quantity, aturally, buyers of copra bags other nbre products are mainly rested in the New Guinea ex mental plantings from tne rpoint of whether or not these result in cheaper fibre products >ming available, r. R. A. Colyer, of Colyer, -son & Co., taking a leading rest in the current experiments, its out, however, that the blishment of an Australian * industry is primarily a stategic . If the present India-Pakistan ■ supplies suddenly became un lable, our first consideration Id be that of obtaining essential >lies at ANY price. It is too i to say whether Australia will ible to turn out fibre supplies competitive world prices. All has been proved for certain lat kenaf is definitely a superior - to jute, and that it can be m in New Guinea, r. Colyer agrees that, as stated >ur article on copra sacks in ?mber, the cost of sack-weaving binery would be very great, and t in the early stages of the stry, any weaving would have >e done overseas. The New lea trade would be mainly in

the export of unfinished fibre, until such time as the output from New Guinea warranted the estab lishment of weaving mills. The production side will have to be proved, first.

Mr. K, Smith, of Casuarina Studio, Rabaul, New Britain, was in Sydney in February on sick leave.

Mr. Fred Jones, well-known trader of Vanikoro, Santa Cruz Group, was in Santo on a business trip when the Christmas hurricane hit the New Hebrides. He left for home on February 12 after he had learned that the blow had carried away all his possessions, including his personal library and business papers.