Cheaper Saigon Rice
p. 17 · Read in the full issue
“Prohibited” in P-NG
THE first post-war shipment of Saigon rice to New Guinea was, in early September, being held in Rabaul as a “prohibited import.”
Sydney shippers had been advised to ship no more until further notice.
This first shipment of Saigon rice was £3 per ton cheaper than Aus tralian rice; it was expected that subsequent shipments would be from £5 to £8 per ton cheaper.
Since the beginning of the Pacific war, all rice supplied to Papua and New Guinea has been Australian rice. Before the war, it all came from Indo-China and other parts of the East, and was about one eighth the price it is to-day.
The Department of Territories in Sydney does not know why Saigon
£*.9® should have become a pro
hibited import; they said that they
tTcanbe^ 6 - ‘° refer the matter
The following official statement
was received from Moresby on Sen tember 14: Present policy Territory rice require ments provided only from Australia but matter currently under consideration.
Australian rice is brown, of specified nutritional value whereas we understand Saigon rise is white, which would require the issue of additional supplementary foods to meet nutritional standard of native rations. See Gazette No. 14 of 1952.