Produce Prices

(Unless otherwise stated, quotations are in Australian currency. Australian dollar equals $l.OO New Zealand; 98-99 cents Fiji; 98 French Pacific francs; 80 cents Western Samoa; $l.OO Tonga; 9/3 sterling and $1.12 USA).

Copra

PAPUA-NEW GUINEA: —All production is delivered to Copra Marketing Board, controlled by six members, including three planter's repre sentatives. The board directs distribution and sales, and makes payments to the producers.

Production goes mainly to (a) Unilever, in UK, (b) Australia for local consumption, (c) crushing-mill in Rabaul, and (d) Japan (surplus as available).

P-NG prices for copra delivered main ports in Feb. were hot-air dried, $l5l per ton; FMS $l4B per ton; smoke-dried, $146 per ton.

FIJI: —Fiji's Coconut Industry Board fixes prices to be paid for copra on a formula based on Philippines copra, taking into account freight, taxes, selling costs, shrinkage, etc.

Copra must be graded at centres in Suva, Levuka, Lautoka, Savusavu and Taveuni. Prices in Suva recently were: Ist grade, SFI36; 2nd grade, SFI26; CAS, $F108.25. A scale of deductions has been established for copra delivered to grading centres other than Suva.

WESTERN SAMOA:—AII production is sold to the Copra Board of Western Samoa at fixed prices. The board makes payments to pro ducers through its agents—local firms—and sells the copra on the open market with a portion of Abels Ltd., NZ. Prices in Feb. were SWSIO4 for Ist grade, SWSIO4 for Ist grade sun dried, and SWS9I for 2nd grade.

TONGA:—AII copra is sold to the Tonga Copra Board which sends it to Europe and the open market. Feb. prices to growers were $T102.25 Ist grade and $T90.25 2nd grade.

SOLOMON IS.:—All production marketed through official Copra Board at prices based on Philippines rates. Output goes to Unilever, UK; to Australian crushers; and the rest to the open market. Prices in Feb. were: Ist grade, $140; 2nd grade, $136; 3rd grade, $126 per ton, BSIP ports (Honiara, Yandina and Gizo).