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p. 127 · Read in the full issue
wing Passions: by [?] rigal Economists!
iere is a laugh for New Guinea iland’s planters in this extract l Gosford (NSW) Times of i 24: [embers of the Terrigal branch the Australian Labour Party 3d to recommend that the FEC 3st to the Minister for Primary uction (Mr. McMahon) against mportation of passionfruit pulp, pulp is produced under slave Jr conditions which strongly )etes with the Australian pro on the Australian market, branch will ask the FEC to est that the native wage be d comparable to the Australian he English is shocking, but we see what it means). ie thing need not be taken usly. It is on a par with simi lowls from Australian primary secondary producers who, for
some reason, argue that if they once begin to produce something, ail similar products from other areas should be shut out.
The pattern never varies. The local committee puts pressure on the political machine; the machine gets on the neck of the local MP: the local member gets after the Minister: and, before anyone wakes up. some rank economic injustice has been perpetrated.
The law of supply and demand has been set aside so often in Australla in this way that the whole Australian economy is suffering.
The P-NG Administration poliC3S the passionfruit industry in New Guinea, as it polices most other things. There is no slave labour— the mere suggestion of it raises high officialdom’s blood pressure, Under official supervision, Messrs,
Cottee, of Goroka, pay the New Guinea native farmers 2d and 3d per lb for passionfruit. The fruit is washed, seeded, pulped and canned by high-class, automatic machinery—there are only a hand natives employed there. The sealed cans are flown out to the P°ft °f shipment by modern planes, guided by very expensive European pilots. They are transported to America and Australia by shipping
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«rVi’iovf aS in! d
claim) soon will send them bank rupt.
If the amateur economists and politicians of Terrigal who grow passionfruit cannot compete against NG passionfruit under these con ditions, they should try crocodile shooting or headhunting for a change. ’ (Over)