Tonga Has A Good
p. 35 · Read in the full issue
Copra Year
FIGURES covering 1955 exports from Tonga show a very substantial increase in copra production for the year.
Tonnage exported was 21,325 tons, as compared with only 14,223 tons in the previous year, 12,600 tons in 1953, and 16,519 tons in 1952. F.o.b. value of the 1955 copra exports was £A1,750,362.
The Tonga banana crop has also shown a steady increase of the four years under review. Quantities and values have been as follows: 1952: 30,894 cases worth £29,824; 1953; 86,775 cases worth £84,124; 1954: 115,250 cases worth £116,962; and 1955: 139,709 cases worth £144,426.
Watermelons, pineapples, and sundry other fruits yielded £18,829 about £1,500 less than in the previous year. fl Another shrinkage in the ranks of New Guinea’s useful old-timers is seen in the imminent departure of Mr. George Whittaker, MLC.
He already has closed up his opticians’ shop in Lae, and has gone to live a spell with his son in the Highlands, before retiring southwards. He will be missed on the Legislative Council.