Planting Prospects In
p. 131 · Read in the full issue
Papua
IN its annual report, the Planters Association of Papua makes some interesting points.
Planting profits generally are down this year—the combined result of rising freights and increased labour costs.
A survey of the copra industry in Papua laid emphasis on the in creasing senility of the coconut palms. For several years, new coconut planting has not kept pace with the ageing process in existing plantations. It takes seven years to bring a palm from planting to maturity.
Rubber exports during the year
decreased slightly, to 8,346,000 pounds, and there was a small gain in acreage.
There is a large area in Papua better suited to rubber than any other main crop.
The cost of establishing a Papuan rubber plantation to-day is from £l5O to £2OO per acre. t It was calculated on September 4 that 12 natives had died in Port Moresby from Asian influenza, and that 34 natives then were in hospital with “chest symptoms.” They were mostly young adults. Medical author ities pointed out that a considerable proportion of those who died had been weakened by liver complaints, from which many natives suffer.