[?]Fer Markets Sought
p. 27 · Read in the full issue
Highlanders Meet ritories Minister
For Ng Products
SURPRISE delegation arrived in Canberra from the Eastern Highlands of New Guinea at end of November, and entered i cordial—and, it is believed, tful—discussions with Territories dster Hasluck, mainly on the ject of marketing, roducers in the Australian ritories have been unhappy for e time. r ith a confident eye upon the ving Australian markets, they e been growing rubber, cocoa, ee, peanuts and passionfruit n a considerable and growing e. But these products have i meeting some strong com tion in the Australian markets, ipetitors have been throwing ■ything they could lay hands a against the New Guinea iucts. id—and this is what so gravely it the P-NG planters—the tralian Government seemed fferent about it all. inberra’s apparent indifference colour to the belief —widely in P-NG—that Territories ister Hasluck would not be y to see European settlement production discouraged, so that e might be greater opportunities New Guinea natives, lat capable young Australian Mr. John Howse, who holds seldom-publicised post of .er-Secretary for the Territories, impanied Australian Treasurer, Arthur Fadden, to New Guinea sfovember, Mr. Howse was dis >ed by the sentiments he heard essed there by the planters. > a result, the marketing of all products of Papua and New lea, including rubber and ia, now is under Departmental SW.
>Assionfruit Industry
? the invitation of the Terri tories Department, a delegation from the Highlands Farmers’
Settlers’ Association, consisting lessrs. R. F. Bunting, MLC, lan ns, MLC, James Leahy and D.
Elphinstone, met Minister luck and some of his senior lals in Canberra on November 9; and many matters connected . marketing were discussed, le delegation will report back ;he Association in Goroka on it December 9. essrs. Cottee placed a large ern factory in Goroka for the tment and canning of passion ; pulp; and induced the natives row the fruit on a large scale.
An outcry from passionfruit growers in Australia, to the effect that their market was being ruined by “the cheap product of black labour in New Guinea” threatened a severe dislocation of this promising Goroka industry some months ago.
The Department now has been informed that Messrs. Cottee will guarantee growers generally in Goroka 3d per lb, and will be responsible for collecting the pro duce, processing it, and transporting it to market.
It is contended that this would be a sufficient reply to the Aus tralian growers’ cry of unfair com petition; while the price offered (3d per lb) would assist in the estab lishment of a suitable industry among Highlands natives.
Products Of East Africa
r:ERE was discussion about the conditions under which East African tropical products com pete in the Australian markets with New Guinea products.
It was pointed out that the freights between Sydney and Madang are as high as freights between Sydney and East Africa; and that New Guinea labour costs are as high as African labour cpsts.
It was contended that, provided
no Australian mainland products are affected, New Guinea products should be protected in Australia against African competition.
Mr. Hasluck was informed that the Highlands Farmers’ and Settlers’
Association probably will admit native planters to the help and privileges of membership. This would mean that the Department, in assisting the Planters’ Association to market its products in Aus tralia, also would be helping the natives to produce for export— which is part of the Department’s stated policy.
It was pointed out that, in addition to native cocoa-growers in the Coastal areas, there now are hundreds of native coffee planters in the Highlands.
The delegation appreciated the courtesy and interest displayed by the Minister; and now is hopeful that the Department will hence forth accept some responsibility regarding the marketing of P-NG products.