The Case For Better Quality Copra

HISTORY will, no doubt, record in due time whether Mr. H. B.

Gibson, Fiji MLA from Labasa, or the oil-millers are right about copra. What these two parties have to say on the subject can be found on pages 69-75 this issue.

Of the two opinions, Mr.

Gibson’s is the most interesting.

One may infer from it that Europe is clamouring for Pacific copra; that the future is assured, and that even those who make poor copra have nothing to fear.

In other words, why bother to make good copra? mi But why make bad copra? The reasons why you should not, are set out clearly on page 69, and onwards. The fact that they are explained by a Unilever executive should not blind you to the fact that they make good, common sense As every South Seas copra producer knows, Mr. H. D. Howard, of Unilevers, visited the South Pacific copra-producing areas early this year, met planters and everywhere urged upon them much of what is contained in the article published in this issue on the pages men tioned. . . , , .

PIM, like everyone interested in Pacific copra, was at first intrigued by Mr. Howard’s visit and the pur pose behind it. We were convinced early, however, that its main pur pose was as stated —to meet pro ducers and inform them what the oil-crushers wanted in the way of quality.

The great majority of planters were pleased to meet Mr. Howard and learn what he had to say—if for no other reason, than to find out what they were likely to be up against after 1957 and the end of the British MOF copra agreement.

But a small minority—particularly in Fiji—took the attitude that Unilever, through Mr. Howard, was simply trying to get at them again, probably by down-grading and down-pricing their present grade copra under pretext of requiring something better, for the ultimate enrichment of the Unilever combine.

However, there are some factors which copra producers should con sider—factors that have little to do with Unilever: • FAO figures show that 150,000 tons of coconut oil per annum less than pre-war is now being used in soap. This is largely because of the use of detergents which take the place of common washing and scrubbing soaps. For high-grade toilet soaps it is desirable to have high-grade copra. Broken, badly dried, smoky copra does not make good toilet soap. • Although the world’s popula tion is growing at a prodigious rate, the use of copra in food has not grown at a like rate. Only 50,000 more tons of coconut oil per annum are being diverted to food produc tion than in 1938.

In other words, 100,000 tons of coconut oil have been lost some where along the way between 1939 and 1956—the place of these tons being taken by other oil-seeds and synthetics. , More edible oils than ever are be ing consumed; people are using cleaning agents in even higher degree than pre-war. The copra producers are clearly not getting their old share of the market It could be, of course, that Colonel Nasser will provide another shot in-the-arm to the copra market, so that planters everywhere can con tinue —as Mr. Howard picturesquely put it—“to cut down everything but the tree,” smoke-dry it, and get away with it. ... ..

According to the experts, it is not very much more difficult to make good copra than bad copra. Why then does so much indifferent copra continue to be made? A great deal of it, of course, is native copra; and, to date, it has been a seller s market. . , ... .

Human nature being what it is, it seems that the British Solomon Islands Protectorate has the right idea —£9 differential between top grade and third grade. On a planta tion doing 300 tons a year, this means nearly £3,000 —probably enough to pay the rice bill, anyhow.