Kenaf—And The Falling

Price Of Jute

r[E practical commercial people

who are backing the Kenaf in dustry in New Guinea refuse to be discouraged by the way in which Indian jute is coming down in price.

“Indian jute may be available at £7O per ton,” said one of their rep resentatives. “We can Produce profitably at £9O per ton We think we can close the gap and make the industry economic. We are mech anised. while jute is worked entirely by man-power, and the cost of labour in India tends to rise.

“The most significant thing is the interest people are taking in this new industry, and the way they are putting their money into it.

Treasury officials cannot be blind to this angle.”

Price Of Copra Sacks

It is noted that in mid-April, copra sacks were quoted in Sydney at 19 11 per dozen—which is equal to 2/2 each on the plantation. This may be compared with the price of 6 - per sack which was the ruling price a couple of years ago, when jute production in India was under a cloud.

It is interesting to note that a 3member delegation from India is now in Australia “to make a study

of the Australian market for jute goods.” (An article on the Kenaf industry in Papua and New Guinea, illustrated with photographs will appear in the June PIM.) U Mrs. F. S. Stewart, owner and manager of the Hotel Cecil. Lae. left Sydney by air in May for

Europe. She flew via the Indian Ocean route to South Africa; and. after seeing the Coronation, and travelling in Europe, she will return to New Guinea via America. She was accompanied from Lae to Syd ney by daughter Ela (now Mrs. J Birrell, of Lae), and the latter’s 7-months-old son.