P-Ng Copra Fund

Points About its Future

Control

J. Moresby, May 12.

THE Board which is to be set up to administer the Copra In dustry Stabilisation Fund (which at present amounts to almost £2,000,000 and which is contributed to by all exporters of copra in Papua and New Guinea) will consist of the following: Two representatives of the copra producers of New Guinea; one representative of the copra producers of Papua; an officer of the Department of the Treasury; one other official member.

The Board will therefore have— for probably the first time in P-NG’s •official history—an official instru mentality that has a majority of non-official members.

All members will be appointed by the Minister for three years and will receive salary, fees and allow ances. The Board annually will elect a chairman. Clerical and secretarial services rendered will be paid for out of the Copra Fund.

The main function of the board is to declare, if or when copra has fallen to such a low price that this Is warranted, a bounty to producers.

The Bill, which was introduced at the November, 1953, Council elec tion and adjourned to allow a select •committee to consider certain re commendations from planters, sets out also who, in the event of a "bounty being declared, are eligible to benefit.

The Board (to be known as the Papua and New Guinea Copra In dustry Stabilisation Board) has not the undivided approval of planting interests. A number are of opinion that the present Copra Marketing Board could have been given authority to administer the Fund.

The official view, however, is that the CMB has a limited life, which ends when the Copra Agreement with the British Ministry of Food ends in 1957,

Unilever Again!

Mr. Fairfax-Ross, nominated member for Papua, disagrees with this official view. He believes that a body such as the Copra Market ing Board (which is an official body and can speak with the voice of Government) will be needed more than ever when the MOF contract expires, as the functions of the MOF in relation to copra bulk purchas ing will likely be taken over then by Unilever.

Other opinion, expressed outside the Council chamber, is that Unilever (which was the bogey-man of every pre-war producer of copra) is even now on the side-lines of the MOF—if not actually directing proceedings.

More Amenities Reach

Rarotonga

r T' v HE first permanent prison in Cook lslands, designed by the NZ Ministry of Works., is nearly completed. The work has been carried out by native carpenters and labourers under a European foreman.

The walls are composed of concrete blocks, made here at the PWD base, and the remainder of material was imported.

There is a large central exercise yard, around which are arranged cells to accommodate 25 prisoners, ablution blocks, kitchen, stores and guardroom.

The gaol will have its own lighting plant and a farm of 8U acres will pro vide native foods for prisoners—and, it is hoped, for the Administration’s hotel and the hospitals. The main building has an area of 2,575 sq. ft., and courtyards

take another 5,248 sq. ft. Estimated final cost is £ NZ14.000.

The new school at Nikao (Rarotonga) is a vast improvement on the old structures of lime and timber, with palm thatched roofs and uneven floors.

Niko school was built by local labour for £B,OOO. Most of the material used was imported, but local lime-cement was used in the walls, which are specially strengthened to withstand hurricanes.

Much use is made of the louvres system in walls and windows in the wall section above the 135 foot long verandah. There are four classrooms, accommodating 135 students. Behind the school is a 5-roomed house equipped for use as a Domestic Science Centre.

For 27 years, successive Adiminstrations have been planning a new and urgently needed Teachers' Training College. Work has now commenced on this project.

Own Correspondent.