Cocoa Grading, Inspection

New Britain Planters Do Not Want Cocoa Grading, Inspection

Port Moresby, April 30.

COCOA growers in the New Britain area have requested the Admin istrator not to introduce legis lation on inspection, grading or con trol of cocoa.

The matter was discussed at a special general meeting of the New Britain Branch of the New Guinea Planters’ Association at Rabaul in April, and the Association then sought the views of its New Ireland and Bougainville Branches.

The Association President, Mr. D.

Barrett, in a press statement later said the New Britain growers—who produced over 80 per cent, of the Territory’s cocoa—were convinced that any grading or control of cocoa would result in lower prices.

This view was based on a survey of world markets and a comparison of the prices obtained for Territory cocoa in the last five years com pared with prices In countries w here cocoa was subject to grading.

Mr. Barrett said that growers of many years’ experience had stressed that the inspection of cocoa was an expert’s job, and they doubted w’hether any competent person could be obtained for the meagre

salaries which were being offered for other produce-inspectors in the Administration service.

Mrs. D. A. Donald, of Honiara, BSI, was a passenger to Sydney on April Malaita. She was joined there in mid-May by Mr. Donald, who is Chief Agricultural Officer in BSI. and they will shortly proceed to the UK on leave.