But Something's

The NG Money Tree

But Something's Affecting The Coffee Market

The vioney-tree of Kinjibi, Its treasures bring to you and me.

The worthy planters of the

New Guinea Highlands, although

somewhat troubled by recent un certainties in the hitherto profit able price of Arabica coffee, have taken time off to be intrigued by developments in the sale of Kin

jibi plantation, near Banz.

IT had generally been reported that the sale had “fallen through”. But on Monday morning, September 22, a Mr. Frank Powell arrived on Goroka airfield with a small party of friends from Australia, and it became known that the deal had become finalised.

Mr. Powell, who describes himself as the “field superintendent” of Goroka Coffee Ltd., is a Sydney man who, from Sydney in recent months, has been directing massive publicity seeking buyers for “units” in Kinjibi plantation—a deal in which buyers have been promised 20 per cent, on their investment.

He has used TV, Press and Radio, and the refrain of “the money tree of Kinjibi” has become a pretty familiar one to Sydney radio listeners.

At almost the same moment as the Powell party arrived at Goroka, only two plane-hops away at Banz the whole European community and a section of the natives were assembling to say goodbye to Messrs. Alan Ferguson and Bill Matthews, ex-RAAF officers who spent the last six or seven years planting up this fine coffee planta tion—and who had sold it to the Powell - promoted company, o r companies, for a price of around

£Loo,Ooo.

Jubilant The jubilant Ferguson and Matthews and their wives and children were held in high regard in the Highlands; and all Banz turned out to give them a farewell whose sincerity, intensity and wetness they will never forget.

They were moving out to Madang and Sydney as the new owners were moving in. Both families intend to take long holidays across the world; but both say, nostalgically, that they may return some day to coffee-planting in these pleasant valleys.

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Kinjibi is a good plantation, ar Highlands coffee-growers general] are delighted that the men wli established it have made the sai and got the cash. But some • the claims about coffee-growir profits, made in the course < promotional publicity, have had re actions ranging from wide-eye wonder to jeering ribaldry.

Prices Fluctuating

Growers do not know just whj has hit the coffee market. Price in September, were fluctuating good deal. Some well-knovi growers have on hand considerate stocks, for which they cannot g< the good prices to which they haj become accustomed.

Into this field of uncertain! late in September, came Mr. H. , Green, a former director of Robes Gillespie and Co. Ltd., who n cently has joined Mr. Alex Hoppe in forming A. A. Hopper & C Ltd., of Rabaul.

They represent, among othen Abel Lemon & Co. Ltd., of Sydne and Mr. Green has been in tie Highlands taking up, for the latte; on consignment, a good deal of tie coffee that was dragging, with down payment of £2O per 188 pounds bag.

This has given new heart to ( few old growers who were gettiii pessimistic.

"Could Be Brighter"

Nonetheless, the outlook is not bright as it might be.

Australia, having stocked heavily on other coffees while tit import licenses were running frn does not want much NG Highlann coffee just now.

It probably is a passing phajs But, sooner or later, Fairy God mother Australia is going to asked to “protect” NG coffee pne duction, in some way.

Miean while, the money-tree Kinjibi does not seem to have besi confined to Kinjibi. Two goo plantation sales have been mas. lately.

Mr. Doug Elphinstone has sold I big plantation, alongside that James Leahy, at Goroka, for i reported £36,000 and has retini happily; and old friend “Jerri Pentland is reported to hsr received £17,000 for one of his coflh plantations, and is touring in tt East.

The buyer is each case is a wev known man, Mr. Max Hewitt, w n acts on behalf of a group call* Huva Coffee Plantations LimitJi