Voluntary Liquidation

End Of Promising New

Britain Industry

Australian Fibres Ltd. In

WHAT should have been one of New Guinea's most promising new minor industries came to an end in March when the shareholders of Australian Fibres, Ltd., of Kokopo, New Britain, decided t© go into voluntary liquidation.

The company was formed about :our years ago and its purpose was o manufacture coir fibre, used in ipholstery, mattresses, etc., from ocal coconut husks and supply the Australian market.

In Australia, the New Guinea ibre had to compete with a some vhat cheaper product from Ceylon >ut manufacturers, on the whole, referred the NG product—it was lust-free and came out of the bales tactically ready for use whereas the Ceylon fibre was pressed into a hard >ale that required considerable work ng to free the fibres.

The Ceylon fibre is manufactured >y the old retting process whereby he coconut husks are soaked in vater for some weeks until the fibre s freed. Australian Fibres, Ltd., xtracted the fibre from the husks by nachines and in the process freed it if dust.

High production costs contributed o the company’s troubles and high hipping costs administered the oup de grace.

The company originally enjoyed a reight concession in that the ship ting company concerned allowed hem to ship by weight rather than iy measurement but in recent months his concession was revoked. This leant that the fibre company had ither to buy a press at a cost be ween £2,000 and £3,000 which was apable of compressing bales into a luch smaller size than their present lutfit or to pay approximately three imes more for their Rabaul-Sydney reight. Shareholders were of the •pinion that they were financially mable to do either the one or the •ther and it was therefore decided o wind up the company.

Dr. F. J. Harlow, Assistant Educational Adviser to the Secretary if State for the Colonies, was in : iji in March. He is especially con erned with technical education and ie is studying on behalf of the South *acific Commission, a proposal to et up a Central Institution for echnical training in the South *acific.

Watson-Jones Wedding

IN Melbourne recently, Miss Iris Watson, formerly a Sister at the European Hospital, Rabaul, NG, and later Sohana, was married to Mr.

Dennis Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs.

J. H. Jones of Port Moresby.

The bride was attended by her sister, and Mr. Bob Wardrop of Port Moresby was best man.

Among the guests were Mr. and Mrs. Dal Chambers, late of Induna Plantation, NG, and Mr. and Mrs.

A. Matthews of Torokina.

The couple expect to return to New Guinea shortly where Mr. Jones

will resume his duties as a Patrol Officer.

In April, 10 more members of the Fiji Military Forces will join the 20 already in New Zealand and do a course of specialist training with the New Zealand Army.