Produce Prices
p. 129 · Read in the full issue
(Unless otherwise stated, quotations are in jstralian currency. Australian dollar equals 1.00 New Zealand; 98-99 cents Fiji; 98 French icific francs; 80 cents Western Samoa; $l.OO mga; 9/3 sterling and $1.12 USA).
Copra
Copra industries are controlled through copra jards in NG, the Solomons, the GEIC, both amoas, Fiji, Tonga and the US Trust Territory, ew Hebrides, the Cooks, French Polynesia and ew Caledonia don't have boards and copra is ther sold individually by growers to overseas jyers or used for local making of soap, etc.
The boards were born after World War II id their functions, which vary among terri iries, include orderly selling overseas, main lining stabilisation funds, raising government ■venue and developing copra on long-term jses.
NEW GUINEA: The board, with planters' «ps, directs distribution and sales and pays anters. Buyers include: Unilever, of the UK, ustralia and Japan, and coconut oil and jsiccated coconut mills (controlled by Car ;nters) on New Britain.
Mar. prices, delivered main ports, were: hot ir dried, $l4O per ton; FMS, $137 per ton; noke-dried, $135 per ton.
FIJI:—The board fixes prices on Philippines ipra, taking into account freight, taxes, selling ists, shrinkage, etc. Prices recently were: st grade, $F144.25; 2nd grade, $F 134.25; CAS, FI 15.25.
WESTERN SAMOA: The board makes pay ents to producers through its agents—local rms—and sells the copra on the open market ith a portion of Abels Ltd., NZ. Recent rices were SWSII7 for Ist grade, SWSII7 for st grade sun dried, and SWSIO4 for 2nd rade.
TONGA: All copra is sold to the board hich sends it to Europe and the open larket. Recent prices to growers were STIO4 st grade and ST92 2nd grade, per ton.
SOLOMON IS.: —All production through board t prices based on Philippines rates. Output oes to the UK, Japan, Australia and the rest j the open market. Mar. prices were: Ist rade, $120; 2nd grade, $116; 3rd grade, 106 per ton, ESIP ports (Honiara, Yandina nd Gizo).