Washington

P-Ng At Vital

Coffee Tal

From our Canberra Correspondei World coffee producing na\ are this month working out a < international coffee agreement Washington.

The draft agreement being amined by the World Coffee S Group, provides for a system of port quotas.

It also has provisions for lim production and stocks.

Other clauses examine ways oi panding coffee production throug the world.

Unlike the existing agreement, new draft provides for membei by consuming—as well as prodi —nations.

Australia is pressing for sp treatment for P-NG, on the gn that coffee is one crop which is to a big portion of the populi and that as a Trust territory hei terests, morally and legally, mus safeguarded. This is a new angl approach.

It is also making the point thal Territory’s output is such a small portion of world production that unlikely to affect world prices.

The Australian delegation also been briefed to make the point although P-NG will be able to more coffee in Australia as den grows, it will not be able to se any greater proportion of this mai P-NG last year sold 3,000 ton coffee in Australia and about 2 tons overseas. Delegates will tell conference that by 1965 P-NG h to sell about 5,500 tons in Aust and 7,000 tons overseas.

Leading P-NG coffee grower, lan Downs, who is president of Highland Farmers and Settlers’ A ciation, has been sent to Washin, by the Commonwealth Departmen Trade as an Adviser to the del tion.

Another member of the delega is the P-NG Director of Agricult Mr. F. C. Henderson.

Reports from Washington after talks started indicated the Austral were pleased at the way their pc were received and they considt their presence there more 1 justified.