Development

Business and

Plan to force development of unproductive land in

Legislation arising out of agitation by the increasingly land hungry Tolai people of New Britain’s Gazelle Peninsula was introduced in Papua-New Guinea’s House of Assembly in November and adjourned for further consideration by the new Assembly to be elected next February.

THE purpose of the legislation is to make it necessary for holders of under-developed freehold land to show that they intend to develop their land adequately. If they fail to do so, the land may be acquired by the Administration upon payment of compensation so that the land may be reallocated and put into pro ductive use.

The Tolais of the Gazelle Pen insula have claimed for years that there were injustices associated with some of the early land acquisitions in their area during the German ad ministration before World War I. As their numbers have grown in recent years, they have shown increasing resentment that some land acquired in German times, and now owned by individual Australians and Aus tralian companies, has not been fully used.

In February, 1965, the Tolai people presented a formal petition to the House of Assembly asking for a “full examination of the laws relat ing to land to ensure that the land law accords with justice and morality.”

A motion to the same effect was subsequently passed in the Assembly on August 26, 1965, and an import ant statement on it was made to the Assembly in March this year by the Director of Lands, Mr. D. S. Grove.

Some big firms have been disturbed by the implications of the March statement, which foreshadowed the legislation introduced in November.

Concerned

In introducing the legislation, Mr.

Grove said that the Administration had been concerned for some years about the large areas of land which had been removed from customary ownership and which had not been developed at all or only to a limited extent. Such land fell into three categories:

• Leasehold land made available by the Administration to individuals, companies or mission bodies for a period of years, which the holders were required to develop in accord ance with improvement conditions written into their leases. • Land which the Administration owned by purchase or because it was declared vacant and ownerless many years before, and which the Admin istration had never leased or needed to use itself for the purpose of gov ernment. • Freehold land granted many years ago by the Administration or the previous German Government to individuals, companies or mission bodies for ever.

Mr. Grove said that when land in any particular area became short, the Administration hoped to be able to make land avilable elsewhere for settlement.

However, it was not considered right that large areas which had been removed from the ownership of the native people should continue to lie idle.

The total area of freehold land in the territory was 550,000 acres, of which 24,000 acres were in Papua and the rest in the trust territory of New Guinea.

Except for two “very small grants” which had been made since the Aus tralian Administration took over from the German Administration, all freehold land in the territory was at least 50 years old, and in many cases much older.

There had therefore been a long period available to develop the land.

Mr. Grove said that under the pro posed legislation the owner of free hold land could have a development notice served upon him if the Admin istrator felt that his land had not been adequately developed.

The owner of the land would then have to prepare a scheme for the

development of the land over a perio set down in the notice.

After the Land Board had report© and made recommendations on th proposed development scheme, th Administrator would discuss it wit his Administrator’s Council, am would either approve or reject it, o approve a different scheme.

When a scheme was approved, th owner of the land would then hav to develop his land in accordant with the scheme.

If he did not, his land could b acquired by the Administration b a procedure similar to that used ii the forfeiture of leases, and comper sation would be payable.

Mr. Grove added that there wer provisions in the legislation f o appeals by landowners against th views of the Land Board.

Consideration of the legislate was adjourned until the next sessioi of the House on the motion of Mi Jim Grose (New Guinea Specid Electorate) who said: “I think th Government is not anxious to pusl this bill through in a hurry, and we too [the elected members] are no terribly anxious to do so.”

Slightly lower

profit for BP's

In its first-ever preliminary repor —after special request from the Syd ney Stock Exchange—Burns Philj and Co. Ltd., investor and islam trader, announced on November 1( a slight decline in profitability foi the year ended June 30.

This follows close on the heels o; fellow island traders W. R. Carpentei and Steamships Trading who botl announced unexciting 1966-67 tradinj years last month ( PIM, Nov., p. 133 135). BP’s had been expected to d< better.

Burns Philip’s consolidated nei profit for the year to June 30 wal $3,942,410.

For the previous period—whict covered 15 months—the profit wa: $5,159,589.

Directors estimated last year thal the 1965-66 result benefited bj $1,147,000 because of the change in balance date.

When this figure is deducted $4,012,589 is left, or, in other words, $70,179 more than the latest profit reported in November. It’s a minor

unt in a profit of almost S 4 ion, but a drop nevertheless, irectors said in the report that Its were affected by “a variety actors, causing varying influences i the economy of the widespread s where the company and its idiaries are operating.” )n the average, however, results be considered quite satisfactory, the period since balancing date shown an improvement in mer idise sales, resulting from a more ident consumer outlook,” they in previous years, shipping re have once again proved most jpointing, and following the imonwealth Government’s de n to discontinue their subsidy lent after next year, it will be ssary to undertake and complete praisement of shipping policy.” d, Nov., p. 24, and p. 37 this ).

Revenue from copra plantations red some decline due to a >nal drop in production and r average prices,” directors said, 'his was largely offset by an in ;e in cocoa production and an ovement in the average market ! as compared with last year.” svenues from investments and ry ventures were “up to ex itions”. le latest group profit represents arning rate of 21.9 per cent, on capital of $lB million (previous d, 22.9 per cent, when adjusted i annual basis). vidend is held at the 10 per cent, al rate started in 1952-53, with nal five per cent, paid last ist. >’s announced that Mr. James s has retired as chairman, in 5 of his son, Mr. J. D, O. Bums, is now also managing director.

Bert Goodsell, general manager Ps (NG), fills the board vacancy.

>ves for NG tea

earch centre

iere are moves to establish a tea rch centre for P-NG, which is :ntly establishing a tea industry, lovember a meeting of the gov ig body of the Highlands iers and Settlers’ Association de l to initiate discussions for a ully planned research centre or ute capable of long-range experi ation. le association indicated that this d be best sited in the Highlands, said that the present centre at iina, in the coastal Morobe dis should be retained to continue trials and to provide a useful antine area if needed.

MG Holdings

tables its profit

,NG Holdings Limited, New nea planter, timber seller and -estate owner, may pay its first dend at the end of next year, i an announcement of the corn y’s results for 1966-67 to the ney Stock Exchange on October directors of the company said ' intended to review their policy lot paying dividends, hey announced an audited net it of $49,443 —almost double the it of $26,030 for the previous ut, this new pofit is only about per cent, on the company’s l-up capital of $914,000. firectors said the tea develop ital project at Banz, Western hlands, was satisfactory {PIM, , P- 125). ull occupancy by all tenants of G House, Port Moresby, was jcted by the end of November the project would begin to make ood contribution to group profits that time. firectors said timber sales during year were 25 per cent, above previous year, but profits were >w expectations. No reason for was given. or the first four months of the •ent year, directors said, timber s were disappointing because of : of demand on the territory ket.

However, the company has for ic time now been planning a or expansion of its operations at »e Rodney with emphasis on ort of both logs and sawn timber,” i said.

Substantial returns are expected n this project, which is based far greater forest reserves than /iously realised.” he directors also said profits from ee production were “in line with get”. And it was coffee that was iously ANG’s main source of fits.

'here Carpenters

ofits come from

)f the W. R. Carpenter Group fits for the year ended June 30, rces derived from Australia rose about 4i per cent, and from the ific Islands they dropped by a e over the same amount, his was shown in the 10th annual art of W. R. Carpenter Holdings released in mid-November, owing the October announcement t the group showed a profit after

tax of $4,773,261 —the first down turn in 23 years (PIM, Nov., p. 133).

Carpenter’s source of profits from Australia equalled 45.96 per cent, of earnings, while the group’s Islands’ interests (primarily New Guinea and Fiji) equalled 54.04 per cent.

As Mr. C. H. Carpenter, the group’s new chairman and managing director, said, lower returns came from the Islands because of rising costs, lower prices and a fall in copra tonnage.

As well, the percentage of 45.96 profits from Australian interests was the first upturn in profits from this source since 1963, when Australian

profits supplied just over half

Carpenters’ total profits. In the fol

lowing years they progressively dropped and last year they repre sented only 41.26 per cent, of the total profits.

Here are the details (with allow ances made for change in balance dates): Source of Profits:

While still very healthy, the group’s percentage earnings to capital and earnings per 50 cent share or stock unit have both been falling since 1963. It may not be until projects like tea growing and desiccated

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 % % % % % Aust. 50.84 49.20 44.08 41.26 45.96 Ex-Aust. . 49.16 50.80 55.92 58.74 54.04

onut get going in New Guinea, : the Fiji sugar economy recovers t these trends can be turned und. Growing tourism will also 3. )irectors said in the report that executive training scheme for v Guineans, begun two years ago, ; meeting with success, t total of 35 young men are study at various seats of higher educa i in NG and reports on their gress are good, they said. A third ke of cadets was being recruited this would complete the scheme originally announced, but directors e decided to extend it for a her three years,

ementson's Army

infracts near end

Vork on construction of Army blishments at Port Moresby and wak is expected to be completed the end of 1967. (New Guinea) Pty. a wholly-owned subsidiary of ney contractor Project Develop it Limited, won the $26 million tract to do the work in January, 5 ( PIM , Feb., 1965, p. 127). It the largest contract ever awarded an Australian contractor, reject Development’s listed parent ipany, Project Development Corp. in November announced a 2,854 net profit for the year ed June 30, 1967.

Only $82,023 has been taken into fit from the New Guinea opera is,” the announcement said. Other v Guinea profits would be brought ► account in the current and sub iient years. 0 consolidate the group’s posi i, directors did not recommend a 1 dividend. They said the funds ition was steadily improving with gressive realisations from the New inea contract. Such profits were ible at the half-rate applicable NG. imoan banana case

ireat pays off

Vest Samoans seem to have learnt t, Treaty of Friendship notwith iding, philanthropy plays no part business deals with New Zealand, with anybody else, iarly this year the Minister of iculture, Laufili Time, announced t Samoa, which has always ered its banana cases from New land (worth up to $400,000 a r), had placed a large order for js from Portugal, where the landed t was some 30 per cent. less.

Henceforth, said Laufili, Samoa would order its cases from this new source.

In November, Laufili announced that New Zealand manufacturers had now offered a price competitive with Portugese supplies and that Western Samoa would resume its orders of cases from New Zealand.

“We would rather buy from New Zealand as New Zealand buys all our bananas,” said Laufili.

At the same time, Laufili an nounced a new scheme by the Marketing Division whereby Samoan growers can now earn an extra 20 sene per case, bringing the top price to growers of 51.50 per case.

“This has been made possible by the lower price for cases,” he said.

The question among Samoans now is will New Zealand meat processers follow the example of the saw millers?

The Samoan Prime Minister, Fiame Mataafa, has announced the banning of all imports of canned and salt meat from New Zealand.

“There are cheaper substitutes available and we have to save our foreign exchange,” he said in a tongue-in-cheek explanation.

“When New Zealand offers a more competitive price the ban will be lifted,” added Mataafa!

>ia gets fruit

nning factory

TERPRISING Apia, West Samoa, businessman Jim Curry, already runs a sawmilling busi a soft drink plant, and a bread and taro chip factory, opened ad canning plant almost entirely by himself at his Sogi property ctober. ic factory employs 10 to 16 canning papaw, pineapple, cal fruit cocktail, coconut cream, >ami, banana puree, palolo, go chutney, vi and guava jam, other tropical food products. : sells on the local market and rts to New Zealand. When the iry is in full production it will :ss about 1,200 cans of fruit r. Curry’s factory is the twelfth industry started under benefits the Enterprises Incentives Act :d two years ago.

>re Fiji manganese

' Japan

trial shipment of 1,000 tons of grade manganese ore from Fiji’s j, Vunimoli and Momi mines will ;nt to Japan in December, ic shipment will be sold by the il Holdings Ltd. Co., of Fiji to tapan Metal Trading Co. Ltd. anaging director of Akhil, Mr. H. il, said the trial shipment would w a recent visit by a director tie Japan company to Fiji. He a huge tonnage of low-grade ganese could be mined in Fiji but 3re would have to compete with ian ore, which was very cheap he Japanese market.

Tonga happy with

banana exports

For the first time in the history of Tonga’s banana industry, exports from the kingdom have topped the half million mark.

On October 19, the 500,000 th case of bananas was loaded aboard Holme and Company’s chartered freighter Magga Dan at Vuna Wharf, Nukua lofa.

With two more months to go be fore the end of 1967 it was predicted the final year’s banana figure would exceed 600,000 cases.

Exports for the full year 1966 totalled 460,640 cases.

The Deputy Premier and chairman

of the Tonga Produce Board, M. U.

Tupou-niua, said banana exports this year were a “tremendous achieve ment”.

“I am particularly pleased because Tonga’s continued prosperity for a long time to come, is going to de pend to a very large extent on her

agricultural output, especially those

commodities for which overseas markets are available,” he said.

“The result demonstrates clearly that when market conditions are favourable and a spirit of co-opera tion exists, as it did in this case, be tween the technical, the advisory and managerial side on the one hand and the growers out in the villages on the other, Tonga can reach un

precedented production targets.”

Mr. Jim Curry.