THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 



Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of the C. A. 8. 



Compiled by A. M. <fc J. FERGUSON. 



No. 4.] 



OCTOBER, 1908. 



[Vol. III. 



DESICCATED COCONUT MANUFACT- 

 URE IN CEYLON AND NEW 

 SOUTH WALES. 



Amongst the new industries which have gained 

 a footing in Australia, as a result of the measure 

 of protection afforded under the new tariff — 

 without which their successful continuance 

 would not have been possible — is one for the 

 preparation of desiccated coconut. The new 

 venture, which, under the trading style of Meg- 

 gitts Limited, has its headquarters at Parra- 

 matta, New South Wales, is already in full 

 swing, finding employment for 100 hands. 



Apart altogether from any political senti- 

 ment, the locally manufactured article is 

 likely to have the support of Australians by 

 reason of the fact that in the course of 

 its preparation hygienic requirements ate 

 complied with to an extent that is quite 

 beyond the reach of manufacturers in Ceylon 

 and other countries where the employment of 

 cheap black labour renders it impossible to guar- 

 antee these essentials. The importance of this 

 aspect will be recognised when it is remembered 

 that a considerable proportion of the desiccated 

 coconut consumed in Australia is eaten practi- 

 cally in its raw state, large quantities being used 

 thus in the manufacture of confectionery. Those 

 who are competent to express an opinion assert 

 that in quality, flavour, and colour there is no 

 question as to the superiority of the Australian 

 product. So encouraging has been the support 

 accorded the new concern that the output of 

 the factory is now about five tons per week, and 

 it has been found necessary to arrange for an 

 extension of the present plan in order to cope 

 with the demand. The coconuts used are 

 being obtained from the South Sea Islands, 

 New Guinea and Java, every precaution being 

 taken, of course, to assure a supply of none but 

 fresh nuts. The objection has been urged that 

 the industry cannot possibly hope to flourish in 



49 



Australia because the necessary freshness of the 

 fruit cannot be guaranteed ; but this supposed 

 bar disappears before the explanation, that 

 under existing conditions the coconuts used 

 in Ceylon and other producing centres are 

 stacked for at least a month after being picked 

 to allow the flesh to "set," a process which 

 is necessary prior to manufacture. In the case 

 of the Australian-made article the nuts are 

 on the machines at Parramatta within four or 

 five weeks of their being picked, and on somo 

 occasions it has been found necessary to hold 

 back the nuts for a time in order to have 

 them in a usable condition, owing to the fact 

 that in a cooler climate they do not mature 

 as rapidly as in warmer temperatures. Not- 

 withstanding the very low basis of values now 

 ruling in the East — due, no doubt, to a world wide 

 depression in the market for this commodity — 

 theAustralian product is being supplied at nearly 

 OJd. per lb. under the cost here of imported 

 desiccated coconut. — Melbourne Age, Aug. 6. 



A CEYLON MANUFACTURE S VIEWS ON 

 THE ABOVE. 



With reference to the above article published 

 in the Melbourne Age regarding the manu- 

 facture of Desiccated Coconut in New South 

 Wales, one of our representatives was accorded an 

 interview with a Ceylon manufacturer of that 

 product, who stated that he had no fear of New 

 South Wales proving any serious competitor to 

 the Coylon industry. 



"The suggestion in that paper," he said, 

 "that we do not take sufficient sanitary precau- 

 tions with the manufacture of our produce, be- 

 cause, employing coloured labour, we are unable 

 to, is nonsense. 



THE GREATEST CLEANLINESS 



is maintained through the whole process of 

 manufacture and clean water is so freely used 

 that dirt or uncloanliness in the finished article 



