Islands Produce

(Unless otherwise stated, quotations are in Australian currency. Aust. £ equals approximately 24/- Stg., NZ, or W.

Samoa; 22/6 Fiji; 20/- Tonga, Solomons & WPHC areas; 140 Pac. Francs; 5U53.23.)

Copra

Price negotiated between British Ministry of Pood and British South Pacific Territories for 1955 is £ Stg.6s, FOB main ports—a reduction of 7-1/7 on the 1954 price. Stabilisation funds and other charges reduce the actual prices to pro ducers to those given below, per ton:

Papua-New Guinea:—Hot Air £69/7/6;

FM (Sun) £6B/12/6; Smoked £65/17/6.

FIJI: —Plantation £F6I/5/6; FM £F6I; moister grades £FS9/15/-, £FSB/15/-, £FS7/15/-.

W .Samoa:—£Ss3/6/-. £Ss3, £Ss2/10/-

for the three gradings in use.

E. SAMOA:—Adjusted with free-market fluctuations. Currently $89.60 (£A4O approx.) per long ton. Periodic bonus if average proceeds exceed Government buy ing price.

SOLOMONS:—Honiara / Gizo: Hot Air

£A67/10/-; Mixed Ha/Fm £A6I/10/-; Fm

£ A57/10/-; Yandina: 5/- higher.

New Hebrides:—Jan. 28: 76.000

metrop. francs, c.i.f. Cent, ports (£A99/5/approx.).

FRENCH OCEANIA:—Latest quotation 8.50 and 8.07 Pac. francs per kilo for the two gradings in use, delivered in bulk, Papeete. (£A6I/12/-- £ A5B/8/- per long ton.).

COOK IS.:—Growers receive £ Stg.37/3/to £Stg.3o/6/- depending on quality and freight rates from particular island to Rarotonga.

COCOA: —Islands prices are based on the rate for Accra cocoa. Sydney February 4 quotation £Stg.4oo-£Stg.4lo.

N.G.: No quote available.

Samoa; £Stg.39s f.0.b., Apia.

COFFEE.—P.-N.G. Maximum 6/6 lb.

PEANU»TS.—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. Feb. 4: No. 1 RSS, spot, buyers IOSVs cents (SeVfed Aust.) per lb., f.0.b.; London, spot, buyers SOVad Stg.‘, early delivery 29%d Stg.

VANILLA BEANS. —Sydney quotation by Victor Karp, Tulk & Co.; Tahiti.—White and Yellow label 77/-, Green 76/-, 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 between Torres Strait producers and Otto Gerdau Co. (USAI for 1955; Sound grades, £A735; D, £ A 390; E, £A3OO; EE, £A225, all f.o.b. Australian port. Manihiki: Last available quotation £ Stg.3so, f.o.b. Raro tonga. Rising tendency.

TROCHUS:—In store, Syd., subject to rejects: NG. £3lO-£320; N. Hebs., £300; Solomons, £265-£275.

Green Snail;—Ng, £210; Solora

£lBO.

London And U.S. Prices

Copra:—London, Jan. 14: Straits, c £Stg. 74/5/- (£ A92/16/- approx.);; Hebrides, afloat, 78,000 metrop. fr (£ AlOO/5/- approx.); Philippines, F Mar. delivery. $205 (£A9I/10/- appro Feb. 4: Straits, c.i.f., £Stg.73; Hebrides, afloat, 77,000 metrop. franc Cocoa:—London, Jan. 14: Accra/La Jan. delivery, £Stg.3Bl; March. £Stg, May, £Stg.3Bl. New York: Jan. 14, s 45.80 cents; May delivery, 45.49 cents., Coffee:—London, Jan. 14; Uganda/Bul native robusta, f.a.q., unwashed, f Mombasa, prompt delivery, £Stg.326; F March, £Stg.32s; Kenya “A”, ££ 718/10/-; “B”, £Stg.673/10/-; £Stg.477. Prime Santos, £Stg.ss7, bond London. New York: Prime Sar March delivery, 63.25 cents; May, 5 cents; July, 55.20 cents.

Trochus:—Last London quotation ; 17: Singapore, early delivery, c £Stg.46s; Sing. / Macassar, £Stg.

Mergui, £Stg.32s; Padang, £Stg Supplies short.

Greensnail:—London, Dec. 17: Singap £ Stg.34o.