Turdens For Bsi Copra
p. 39 · Read in the full issue
Producers
PE accounts of the Solomon Islands Copra Board for the year ended December 31, 1951, >ere published in January, 1953.
When 1951 opened, the Board had ,421 tons of copra on hand. Dur ng the year, it took over 10,485 tons rom planters, sold 11,448 tons to he British Ministry of Food, and lad 413 tons on hand at the year’s nd. Shrinkage took 45 tons.
For copra sold, the Board got 759,833. It paid £584,662 to the ilanters, and no less than £113,972
to the BSI Government, by way of export duty at the rate of about £lO per ton; and then showed a profit of £23,629.
Someone has to keep the BSI Administration going and, as BSI — unlike Papua-New Guinea —has not got a rich uncle in Canberra to lavishly subsidise the government, the Territory’s only industry, copra production, has to bear the burden.
When, on top of this export duty, the BSI planters are also mulcted in heavy income taxation, there is considerable bitterness engendered.
At the end of 1951, the BSI Copra Board had an accumulated profit of £63,374. By now, at the same
rate, it must be close on £lOO,OOO.
It will be interesting to see what becomes of it.
What with export tax and income tax, there is no fortune for copra producers in the Solomons.
Mr. Keith Marlow, of Fiji Builders Ltd., Suva, was in Auckland on leave in February-March.