Produce Prices
p. 129 · Read in the full issue
(Unless otherwise stated, quotations are in Australian currency. Australian dollar equals SI.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
Copra industries are controlled through copra boards in NG, the Solomons, the GEIC, both Samoas, Fiji, Tonga and the US Trust Territory.
New Hebrides, the Cooks, French Polynesia and New Caledonia don't have boards and copra is either sold individually by growers to overseas buyers or used for local making of soap, etc.
The boards were born after World War II and their functions, which vary among terri tories, include orderly selling overseas, main taining stabilisation funds, raising government revenue and developing copra on long-term bases.
NEW GUINEA: The board, with planters' reps, directs distribution and sales and pays planters. Buyers include: Unilever, of the UK, Australia and Japan, and coconut oil and desiccated coconut mills (controlled by Car penters) on New Britain.
Jan. prices, delivered main ports, were: hot air dried, $l3O per ton; FMS, $127 per ton; smoke-dried, $125 per ton.
FIJI:—The board fixes prices on Philippines copra, taking into account freight, taxes, selling costs, shrinkage, etc. Prices recently were: Ist grade, $F163.25; 2nd grade, SFI3B; CAS, SFII9. A scale of deductions has been estab lished for copra delivered to grading centres other than Suva.
WESTERN SAMOA: The board makes pay ments to producers through its agents—-local firms—and sells the copra on the open market with a portion of Abels Ltd., NZ. Recent prices were SWSII7 for Ist grade, SWSII7 for Ist grade sun dried, and SWSIO4 for 2nd grade.
TONGA: All copra is sold to the board which sends it to Europe and the open market. Recent prices to growers were STIO4 Ist grade and ST92 2nd grade, per ton.
SOLOMON IS.: —All production through board at prices based on Philippines rates. Output goes to Unilever, UK; to Australian crushers; and the rest to the open market. Jan. prices were: Ist grade, $120; 2nd grade, $116; 3rd grade, $lO6 per ton, BSIP ports (Honiara, Yandina and Gizo).
GILBERT AND ELLICE; Copra board pays growers $78.40 per ton and receives $143.05 per ton from overseas buyers; 2nd grade price increased from 3c to 3ic Jan.