Islands Produce

(Unless otherwise stated, quotations are in Australian currency. Aust. £ equals approximately 34/- Stg., NZ, or W.

Samoa; 23/6 Fiji; 20/- Tn„ ea; 140 Pac.

Francs; 5U53.23.)

Copra

The official price paid by the British Ministry of Pood 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 £ r <o 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;—

W. SAMOA:—After deductions producers receive approx. £AS7/12/-, £AS7/5/-, and £ A56/15/- per ton under the three grad ings in use.

E. SAMOA:—Currently $89.60 (£A4O) per long ton, plus bonus at end of year if average proceeds higher.

SOLOMONS:—Hot Air: Honiara/Gizo £69/5/-, Yandina £69/10/-; Mixed FM £1 less; FM £2 less, respectively.

New Hebrides:—Jan. 4, 77.000 Pac.

francs per long ton (approx. £ASS/4/-).

FRENCH OCEANIA:—Latest quotation 9.50 and 9.03 Pac. francs per kilo for the two gradings in use, delivered in bulk, Papeete. ( £ A 67— £ A65/15/- per long ton.) COOK IS.;—See page 74.

COCOA:—lslands prices are based on the rate for Accra cocoa. Sydney January 5 quotations varied from £ 5tg.377- £Stg.39s, c.i.f., Sydney.

N.G.: £ A 440-450, ex wharf, Sydney.

Samoa: £Stg.3Bo. f.0.b., Apia.

COFFEE. —P.-N.G. Maximum 7/- lb.

PEANUTS. —P.-N.G.: —Ready sale Sydney for Virginia Bunch, in shell, large, well cleaned, at 1/6 per lb.

RUBBER.— P.-N.G. price is based on Singapore. Jan. 4; No. 1 RSS, spot, buyers 97 3 /i cents (36.6 d Aust.) per lb., f.0.b.; London, spot, buyers 31d Stg., early delivery 28V'8d Stg.

VANILLA BEANS. —Sydney quotation by Victor Karp, Tulk & Co.: Tahiti. —White and Yellow label 82/-. Green 80/-, c.i.f.

RlCE;—Price adjusted May 1 each year.

P -N.G.: Dry brown and dressed £B3 per ton, f.o.b. Other Pacific Islands £9O.

PEARL SHELL.—Prices fixed betwe Torres Strait producers and Otto Gerd Co. (USA) for 1954: Sound grades, £A7: D, £ A 390; E, £A3OO; EE, £A225, f.o.b. Australian port. Manihiki; Dhn receiving l/10d per lb. for cleaned bla( lip. Rarotonga f.o.b. price about £Stg.; per ton.

TROCHUS SHELL.—First Grade 1 quoted early Jan. £A375 per ton, wharf Sydney, less rejects.

Green Snail Shell.—N.G., Ist Gr£

£ A 250 per ton less rejects, ex-whs Sydney.

London And U.S. Prices

Copra:— London, Dec. 17: Straits, c £Stg.74/5/- ( £ A92/16/- approx, i ; Hebrides, afloat, 79,000 metrop. fra (£ AlO2 approx. I; Philippines, Dec-J delivery $198V 2 (£ABB/10/- approx.).

Cocoa; —London, Dec. 17: Accra/La £Stg.37s January delivery, c.i.f., Ma delivery £Stg.3Bo, May £Stg.3Bo; I York, Dec. 17: spot 45.80 cents, 5 delivery 45.36 cents.

Coffee:— London, Dec. 17: Uganda/Buk native robusta, f.a.q., unwashed, f.

Mombasa, prompt delivery £Stg.332/1 Feb.-Mar. £Stg.32l; Kenya “A” £S 726/10/-, “B” £Stg.66s/10/-, “C” £Stg. all prompt delivery; Brazil, no ss New York quotes: Santos, delivery 1 68.37 cents, Mar. 62.65 cents, May 51 cents.

Trochus: —London, Dec. 17; Smgai early delivery, c.i.f., £Stg.46s, Si: Macassar £Stg.3Bo, Mergui £Stg.

Padang £Stg.3oo.

Greensnail:— Singapore, £Stg.34o.

Papua And New Guinea

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

Fiji

Pltn. . .. £F70 15 6 (60 pts. & over) FMS . .. £F70 10 0 (45-57V 2 pts.)