Sharp Fall in Vanilla Price

THERE was a sharp fall in vanilla quotations in Sydney in Feb ruary. The price for Tahiti vanilla, early that month, was 77/per lb for the two best gradings.

Early March, these were quoted at 64/-.

Tahiti exporters were then paying 200 francs per kilo to producers for the raw, unprocessed beans. This is equivalent to about 1,3 - per lb Aus tralian.

A Sydney importer said that the drop apparently was occasioned bv the Papeete exporters having rather large stocks of 1954 season beans on hand. They would wish to clear these before the new season crop appears, in the middle of the year The importer also pointed out, in relation to the price paid to pro ducers, it must be remembered that there is a heavy loss in weight in the curing process—at least 50 ner cent.

A rosewood shield, fashioned by skilled Indian craftsmen, has been presented to the Administration of Papua-New Guinea by the Indian High Commissioner to Australia, General K. M. Cariappa. Its pur pose is to foster art among the native children of the Territory. It will be presented to the best child artist in an annual Territory-wide competition.

A US coast guard plane fll between Kwajalein and John Islands, on January 22, sigi: several life rafts bobbing in Pacific. They contained the s» crew members of a missing Ur: States Navy flying boat. The c guard plane was one of 40 w; took part in the search, t vessels also helped cover an of 102,000 square miles. The vivors had been on the rafts three days.