Down-Grading Puts

Native

Copra Producers

Down-Grading Puts Them Off

NATIVE copra production in Papua-New Guinea is falling off rapidly and drastically, the registrar of Native Co-operatives, Mr. G. Morris said on Sept. 19.

Mr Morris said the fall-off was due to rigid grading standards im posed by the Department of Agri culture in its efforts to make the territory copra fit to compete with any on the world market.

However, the effect had been to drive natives out of the industry.

Mr. Morris said that in 1955, when rigid grading was introduced, the value of Native Co-operative Copra production was £413,235. This year it was £367,420. A drop in copra prices had been more than offset by the expansion of co operative activity.

Mr. Morris said most of the na tive copra was rejected because it was too moist or because it was smoke dried in the traditional way.

The Agricultural Department is instructing natives in the use of small, economical hot air driers, but because of rejections, many natives have lost all interest in the industry.

(What Mr. Morris has to say emphasises again the need for trained, efficient and enthusiastic European Co-operative officers.

Quality requirements of P-NG copra cannot he relaxed ; the effort will have to he made to show the natives why it is more profitable for them to make good copra.)

t Because refrigeration facilities were proving “more costly than was estimated” at the recently opened Nukualofa produce market,' charges have been increased. Ice now sells at 2d per pound, and cold storage charges have been increased to 1/- per cubic foot or per 50 lbs weight, per 24 hours.