COPRA TRADE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 95, 15 January 1918, Page 5

COPRA TRADE

GERMAN INTERESTS OUSTED

IMPORTANT SHIPPING MOVE

Since tho war tho elimination of ,-Ger. man trade his caused many changes in, commerce, and'considerable di&culty lias.been experienced by various mduetnw in, overcoming numerous obstacles that nayo arisen and accommodating Uiemwlves to the change. Previous to -the-war, Germany to practically the dominating power in the copra trade, und the major, portion of this island produce woe geneially secured in hei-intereels. rhe principal market for copra was Germany, although a portion of the supply went elsewhere. With the declaration of war this trade automatically ceased, and the Island producers wore confronted with a Berious position. Messrs. Burns, Wulp and Co., Ltd., who have considerable interests in the Islands, and who were the Gormen traders' principal competitors, then stepped in the breach and ousted what remained of tho German influence and secured for themselves and other British concerns a monopoly of tho product. This, says the "Sydney Morning Herald" required much skill and considerable financial risk. With tho European market closed against copra, fresh markets were secured by Messrs. Burns, Philp in America, a country which up to then had imported but a negligible quantity of copra, 'iho American demand for the product quickly grew to what "it is to-day, llw question of freight caused much concern. To overcome this difficulty, the company sent Mr. J. Mitchell to the United States, and after an absence of twelve montus from Sydney, ho has now returned. Mr. Mitchell transacted a considerable amount of business for his firm, and looks upon the trip as most successful. In San Francisco ho paced an order for three wooden auxiliary schooners, rhe order for the vessels was placed in March Inst, and they were delivered in November Delivery would liave been made sooner but for tho fact that all the available stocks of chains and anchors were requisitioned by the Government. Each of these vessels is of 500 tons, and will be employed in the inter-wlaml trade for which they have bwu specially constructed. Two of the schooners are now on thoir way out, whilst the third w expected to leavo shortly. Incidentally, it may bo mentioned that a fourth vessel is being built for the company in bydnev by Messrs. Morrison and Sinclair. Another transaction carried through by Mr. Mitchell in America was the formation of an Australian-Ameriean corpora-; tion named the Burns, Philp Company of San Francisco Incorporated. Ims company was formed to meet the necessities of Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co. s increasing American trade. Ihe directors of this company are ns follow:—Jffesidont, Mr. J. Mitchell; vice-president,Mr Geo. Billings (of Messrs. G. Billings and Son); director, Mr. Douglas Crane (of AVhightman, Crane and Co.); Mr. Bolnh H. Strange (general manager of Ihelacillo Oil and Lead Works); and Mr J. J. IVan (vice-president of the Crocker National Bank). The manager of the corporation is Mr. D. W. C. Cross, who (or many yenrs was employed l>" iiurns, Philp, ami Co. in Sydney; and Mr. J. Fnean is the treasurer. _ The corporation has already acquired a number of ships through pnrchase and charter, and these aro being worked to their utmost capacity,; carrying copra and other Island products in the joint interests of tho two firms.