Islands Produce
p. 170 · Read in the full issue
(Unless otherwise stated, quotations are in Australian currency)
Copra
The official price paid by the British Ministry of Food for copra produced in British Territories in the South Pacific (Papua, New Guinea, Solomons, Gilbert and Ellice, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands) for the year as from January 1, 1954, is approximately £7O Sterling per ton, f.0.b., chief Territories ports. Each Governmental authority, handling and shipping the copra, makes deductions from the £7O Stg., such charges being different in each Territory. The following
are the prices now being paid, per ton, to growers in different Territories;—
Papua And New Guinea
Fiji
Pltn. . .. £F7O 15 6 (60 pts. & over) FMS . .. £F7O 10 0 /45-57V2 pts.) W. SAMOA:—No details —producers ex pect about £NZSB in 1954.
E. SAMOA: —Government pays $ll2 per long ton, plus bonus at end of year if average proceeds higher.
SOLOMONS: —After deductions producers receive £A67/10/-, main ports.
NEW HEBRIDES:—On September 29, Vila, 7,900 Pacific francs (£ASS/6/-).
Currency Note: Compared with Sterling, Aust. £ is worth 16/-; Fiji £ is 18/-; NZ £ is 20/-.
COCOA.—lslands prices are usually based on rate for Accra cocoa (W.
Africa), quotation (from Colyer Watson, Ltd., Sydney) for which on October 7 was £Stg.3Bo (£A475 approx.) c.i.f., ton, Cont. ports.
N.G.— £5OO approx, per ton, in store, Sydney.
Samoa.—Sydney agents in October quoted Samoa cocoa at £S4OO (£ASOO approx.), f.o.b. per ton, first grade.
COFFEE.—P.-N.G. Market unsteady, fall ing, no firm Sydney quotation, but below 6/- per lb. MANGAIA (Cook Islands). — Robusta, green, unprocessed 1/- -2/- per lb. on plantation.
PEANUTS.—P.-N.G.:—Ready sale Sydney for Virginia Bunch, in shell, large, well cleaned, at 1/6 per lb.
RUBBER.—Papua - New Guinea: Price based on Singapore figure which fluctuates for day to day. Quotation on October 6 was 28V2d Aust. lb. Singapore rate Oct. 6 No. 1 grade RSS (sellers) spot 73-5/16C. lb. c.i.f. (approx. 25 3 Ad Aust. lb.).
VANILLA BEANS.—Sydney quotations by (Victor Karp, Tulk & Co.c Tahiti.—Sup plies very short, White and Yellow 88/-.
RICE.—New season’s (1954-1955) price
is: P.-N.G.—Dry brown and dressed f.o.b. per ton. Other Pacific Islands, eluding N.Z. dependencies, £9O.
PEARL SHELL.—Prices fixed bet Torres Strait producers and Otto Ge Co. (USA) for 1954: Sound grades, £i D, £ A 390; E, £A3OO; EE, £A225, f.o.b. Australian port. Manihiki: £, c.i.f., Auckland.
TROCHUS SHELL.—Market unst Recent N.G. parcel £A3IS per tor wharf Sydney, less rejects.
Green Snail Shell—N G., Ist §
£220 per ton less rejects,, ex-w Sydney. N.H., £2lO, ditto. 8.5.1., I grade £175-£l9O, ditto.
London Prices
London, Aug.
Copra, c.i.f., Continental Ports, t( New Hebrides . . . . 76,250 Metrop. fi (£ ABO/17/- app Coconut Oil, c.i.f. Continental Port drums, per long ton:— Straits, Aug., bulk £AI2 Ceylon, ditto £AI2 Cocoa, per 50 kilos, c.i.f., Nth. tinental Forts, Oct.-Dec.: — Accra (£ A6OO approx, per long
At Main Crushers, Ex- Ports ship Sydney Hot Air £ A75 0 0 £ A97 0 0
Fms . .
£ A74 5 0 £ A97 0 0 Smokedried £ A71 10 0 £ A96 0 0