Produce Prices

(Unless otherwise stated, quotations are in Australian currency. Australian dollar equals (1.00 New Zealand; 98-99 cents Fiji; 98 French ’acific francs; 80 cents Western Samoa; $l.OO longa; 9/3 sterling and $1.12 USA).

Copra

Copra industries are controlled through copra joards in NG, the Solomons, the GEIC, both Samoas, Fiji, Tonga and the US Trust Territory. »lew Hebrides, the Cooks, French Polynesia and lew Caledonia don't have boards and copra is >ither sold individually by growers to overseas luyers or used for local making of soap, etc.

The boards were born after World War II md their functions, which vary among terri ories, include orderly selling overseas, main aining stabilisation funds, raising government evenue and developing copra on long-term lases.

NEW GUINEA: The board, with planters' eps, directs distribution and sales and pays Hanters. Buyers include: Unilever, of the UK, Australia and Japan, and coconut oil and Jesiccated coconut mills (controlled by Car >enters) on New Britain.

May prices, delivered main ports, were: hot lir dried, $l4O per ton; FMS, $137 per ton; imoke-dried, $135 per ton.

FIJI:—The board fixes prices on Philippines ;opra, taking into account freight, taxes, selling :osts, shrinkage, etc. Prices recently were: Ist grade, $F163.25; 2nd grade, $F155.25; CAS >F135.75.

WESTERN SAMOA:—The board makes pay nents to producers through its agents—local irms—and sells the oopra on the open market vith a portion of Abels Ltd., NZ. Recent trices were SWSII7 for Ist grade, SWSII7 for st grade sun dried, and SWSIO4 for 2nd irade.

TONGA: All copra is sold to the board vhich sends it to Europe and the open narket. Recent prices to growers were STII3 st grade and $T 101 2nd grade, per ton.

SOLOMON IS.:—All production through board it prices based on Philippines rates. Output joes to the UK, Japan, Australia and the rest o the open market. May prices were: Ist irade, $126; 2nd grade, $122; 3rd grade, >ll2 per ton, BSIP ports (Honiara, Yandina nd Gizo).