Samoa Copra Crop

1958 Samoa Copra Crop To Unilever

F accordance with the reports and recommendations of its representatives who attended the Dra marketing talks in London June, Western Samoa has ided to sell its entire 1958 lorts to Unilever interests. ’he two representatives in idon were the Secretary to the vernment, Mr. T. R. Smith, and Hon. Tualaulelei. They tabled ir reports during the last session the Assembly. ’he price basis for copra shipped any month is to be the average nthly price for Philippine Fair rchantable copra during the vious month plus premiums of per ton for Hot Air Dried and - per ton for Ist grade Sun ed. Payment will be made ore arrival of copra in England, after presentation of the oping documents in London —i.e., iut 12 days after shipment. ■hough the Board has investi ed other possibilities of disposal the copra, it came to the con don that the 1958 agreement h Unilever was the best contract ainable at present. .fter the negotiations had been ctically concluded, the Board sived advice that the USA cessing tax for imported copra n foreign countries had been lished and that therefore future nces for sale of copra to the A were better.

'he Copra Board has appointed ssrs. C. Czarnikow & Co., of idon, as its agents to safeguard Board’s interests in London, n arrangement has also been ie to ensure adequate shipping ilities to uplift Samoan copra at alar intervals. The Bank Ship g Line, which carries Samoan ra at present, has declared its ingness to continue to transport moan copra and make regular s at Apia for that purpose.

)Opra Board V. Private

Trading

HEATED discussion took place at the recent session of the Legislative Assembly on an jrim report by an Executive mcil Sub-Committee dealing b the proposal of the Hon. loti that, starting next year, the >ra Board should purchase all ra direct from the producer, he report and the proposals tained in it and estimates given omitted of the expenditure for scheme, were severely criticised European members while noan members opposed the pro ed establishment of only 30 ra buying points in Upolu and r aii and demanded the estab ment of buying points in every

village, which would augment the number to about 200.

An interesting point which was made clear during the debate by the Acting Financial Secretary, Mr. A.

J. Neil, was that at the present time the commercial firms in Apia are actually paying to pro ducers an appreciably higher price for their copra than the minimum price stipulated by the Copra Board.

The interim report estimates that some £200,000 will be required to finance the initial and running expenses of the scheme. The question of where this large amount can be obtained is left open in the report.

The Copra Stabilisation Fund of some £300,000 cannot be used for the purpose, as this money is the property of the copra growers and forms a reserve for emergencies, such as a drop in the copra price, difficulties in shipping or losses in transit.

The interim report was finally referred to the Government for consideration and the Sub-Com mittee was asked for further con sideration and a final report. t Mrs. D. Riechelmann, latterly manageress of the well-known “Beach House”, Nukualofa, until it closed last May, has now left Tonga after many years there to settle in New Zealand. She was farewelled at many functions in Nukualofa, prior to departure.