The exports of the Territory, practically copra only, were :— 
1924-25 |. ‘ 
1925-26 .. 
To Australia. 
ons, 
11,500 
16.549 
To other Countries. 
Tot 
Tons, Tons, 
WaT | 39.797 
30,044 46.593 
It is anticipated that the production of copra will increase until approximately 60,000 
sons will be available for export. 
Owing to the disposal of expropriated properties which has been taking place during the 
past six months, the whole of the shipping position in the Mandated Territory is undergoing a 
change, and as the properties pass into private ownership, radical alteration in the existing 
conditions may be expected. Until recently about two-thirds of the copra exported was controlled 
by the Expropriation Board, whilst the balance belonged to the missions and private traders, 
and was handled by Burns, Philp and Company Limited or W. R. Carpenter and Company Limited. 
The Board controlled about 300 plantations, which produced about 24,000 tons of copra annually. 
Most of this copra was shipped in bulk to Europe, but under the shipping contract the produce 
of certain places, viz, Manus, Maron, Witu, and Kieta had to be shipped to Sydney to ensure 
back loading for the subsidized steamers. 
The current contract provides for the following services to New Guinea :— 
(@) A through mail service, known as the “ Rabaul Direct Service,” of one sailing 
every six weeks by s.s. Mataram (3,331 tons gross), proceeding from Sydney 
to Brisbane, thence direct to Rabaul, Kaewieng, Manus, Maron, Madang, Witu, 
returning to Rabaul and Sydney, with the right of the contractors to call at 
any other port or place in the Territory approved by the Administrator. 
The subsidy in respect of this service is £12,000 per annum. 
(b) A through mail service, known as the ° Rabaul-Solomon Service,” alternating 
at Rabaul with the ““ Rabaul Direct Service ”—of one salling every six weeks 
by s.s. Melusia (1,989 tons gross), proceeding from Sydney to Brisbane, thence 
to Rabaul and Kaewieng, returning to Rabaul, thence via Faisi, Gizo, Russell 
Group, and Tulagi, and such other outports in the Western Solomons Group as 
may be approved by the Minister, to Brisbane and Sydney. 
The subsidy in respect of this service is £8,000 per annum. 
At the present time, however, due to the overhaul of steamers and other reasons, these 
services have been re-arranged. 8.8. Montoro (4,057 tons gross) is now employed in the New (fuinea 
service, making the following run —Sydney, Brisbane, Samarai, Rabaul, Kaewieng, Manus, 
Maron, Longan, Matty, Seleo, Potsdamhafen, Madang, Alexishafen, Witu, Rabaul, Samarai to 
Sydney ; and s.s. Melusia—recently replaced by s.8. Marsina—is conducting a service as under :— 
Sydney, Brisbane, Samarai, Rabaul, Lindenhafen, Salamoa, Singawa, Finschhafen, Kaewieng, 
Rabaul, Soraken, Numa Numa, Kieta to Sydney—the extension to the Solomons being omitted, 
28 a larger and faster vessel is now serving those islands. 
Local Services.—The inter-island and coastal trade of New Guinea is conducted by small 
boats running on a competitive basis and serving the plantations on the various islands, Figures 
submitted to the Committee showed that there were 91 coastal vessels registered in the Territory, 
varying from 3 to 797 tons register, the principal ones being—Madal (797 tons), Meklong (267 
bons), and John Douglas (95 tons), run by W. R. Carpenter and Company Limited. and Maiwara 
(600 tons), owned by Burns, Philp, and Company Limited. 
It was also intimated to the Committee that W. R. Carpenter and Company Limited proposed 
Yo augment their inter-island fleet by the addition of s.s. Durour (700 tons). The services conducted 
by this Company include—Rabaul to the South Coast of New Britain and Morobe and Salamoa ; 
Rabaul to Buka and Bougainville ; Rabaul to the West and East Coasts of New Ireland, including 
Kaewieng ; Rabaul and the North Coast of New Britain and Baining. The Rabaul manager of 
this Company was of opinion that there were sufficient coastal vessels available in New Guinea to 
run a four-weekly service for freight and passengers to the subsidiary ports from Rabaul, although, 
n some cases, additional passenger accommodation might be required. 
As in Papua, all schooners and vessels leaving ports must carry mails.