Commerce Briefs

• Total group profit of Burns Tiilp and Co Ltd declined by about 3 per cent in the six months to December 31. There was a 66 per ent fall in profit in Australia and >lew Zealand, but net earnings from slands’ activities rose by 71 per cent.

Tie directors expect the profit fall or the full year to be more than 13 er cent. The interim dividend for tie latest half-year is a steady 7i er cent, on capital increased by the 974 one-for-five bonus issue. • Katafaga Island in Lau, Fiji, as been bought by a new Fiji pri ate company, Katafaga Plantation 'o Ltd, for $175,000. It was owned y Lady Scott, of Suva, wife of Sir laurice Scott, and before that by ady Scott’s first husband, the late larold Gatty, aviation pioneer, katafaga < covers about 700 acres, lost of it planted in coconut trees.

Tie directors of Katafaga Plantation o Ltd are Mr David Blackley and )r C. Blackley, both of New Zealand. • A three-man delegation from apua New Guinea left for Paris, Washington and York in April to iscuss the copper industry, and to nd a manager for the Ok Tedi Dpper project. In Washington, the elegation was scheduled to see Mr obert McNamara, former US De mce Secretary and now president of le World Bank, to discuss World ank funding of the Ok Tedi project, he delegation consisted of Mr Nigel gonia, Director of Mines (leader), Ir David Beatty, Director of the entral Planning Office, and Mr rown Bai, of the Central Planning ffice. 5 • Ratu Josua Toganivalu has sen appointed Minister for Agricul ire, Fisheries and Forests in Fiji, icceeding Mr Doug Brown, who signed to devote more time to his instituency as a backbencher in the [ouse of Representatives, and to is farming interests near Nausori.

Ir Brown was minister for eight sars. Ratu Josua has been suc "fded as Minister for Lands and lineral Resources by Mr Sakeasi Waqanivavalagi.