Produce Prices
p. 109 · Read in the full issue
(Unless otherwise stated, quotations are in Australian currency. Australian dollar equals $l.OO New Zealand; 96 cents Fiji; 81 sene Western Samoa; $l.OO Tonga, 45.8 new pence UK, 110 French Pacific francs, 1.19 SUS.)
Copra
Copra moustries are controlled through copra boards m 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 soid 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. Shipments are made to UK, European markets and to Australia and Japan, and coco nut oil mills on New Britain.
Latest prices, delivered main ports were hot-air dried, $llO per ton; FMS, $lO7 pet ton,- smoke-dried, $lO5 per ton.
FIJI:—The board fixes prices on Philippines copra, taking into account freight, taxes, selling costs, shrinkage, etc. Prices recently were -Ist gratle, $F77.75 ; 2nd grade, $F67.75, CAS, $r47.75.
WESTERN SAMOA: The board makes pay ments to producers through its agents—local tirms—and sells the copra on the open market with a portion to Abels Ltd., NZ Recent $7040 ISt qUal ‘ ty ' SB4JO; 2nd Quality, TONGA: All copra is sold to the board wh, «" sends it to Europe and the ooen market. Recent prices to growers were Ts7o Ist grade, and TssB 2nd grade, per ton Per coconut 1.2 c.
SOLOMON IS.:—All production through board nL t Pr ! C6S *i, ba f. ? n FbHippines rates. Output goes to the UK, Japan, Australia and the rest nrJo tol" o markef . Recent prices were: Ist grade $95; 2nd grade, $9l; 3rd grade, $Bl BSIP P° rts (Honiara, Yandina ‘ and 9r G li ßE m m ND . ELLI S E - 2 * c P er lb Hst grade); 2c per Ib (2nd grade).
NEW HEBRIDES: Copra sold direct by Planters t 0 France and Japan. Official market Crinrh °< n Jan ', 24 for $ 37 - Marseilles 68 French francs (per 100 kilos) Feb. 16.