| Revision as of 08:02, 15 March 2008 editLester (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users6,805 edits m Repaired broken reference link. No change to text← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:15, 17 March 2008 edit undoPrester John (talk | contribs)6,966 edits →Australian production: remove weasel wordNext edit → | ||
| (9 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
| {{POV|date=March 2008}} | {{POV|date=March 2008}} | ||
| ] plantations of Australia's Trust Territory of ], 1948. '']'']] | ] plantations of Australia's Trust Territory of ], 1948. '']'']] | ||
| '''''Copra dummies''''' is a term used to describe ] ex-], typically with few or no assets, who bought ] plantations in ] during the ] under generous terms offered by the ], but assigned management of those business to Australian trading companies. | |||
| <ref name="AGE_Marr">{{cite news |first=David |last=Marr |authorlink=David Marr (journalist) |title=Howard's hidden past |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/howards-hidden-past/2006/06/09/1149815316626.html |publisher='']'' |date=2006-06-10 |accessdate=2007-12-20 }}</ref> | |||
| '''Copra Plantations in New Guniea''' have been cultivated since the late 1800's. Originally established by a colonial ] presence, they were superceeded by ]n interests following ]. | |||
| <!-- The practice of ''dummying'' was considered a scandal, and described as the ''"dummying evil"'' by the Australian ] of the time.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} The trading companies profited from the ventures, which the Australian government originally intended to be a subsidy for ex-servicemen who fought in ].<ref name="AGE_Marr"/> --> | |||
| ==German production== | |||
| ==History== | |||
| In 1884, ] settlers arrived in ] |
In 1884, ] settlers arrived in ] and planted ], the dried flesh of the ]. They formed a ], known as ], and established numerous coconut plantations around New Guinea's coastal areas. They were afraid of venturing too far inland. | ||
| <ref name="Post_Courier">{{cite news |title=Howard’s history with PNG |url=http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20040730/weekend.htm |publisher='']'' |date=2004-07-30 |accessdate=2007-12-20 }}</ref> | <ref name="Post_Courier">{{cite news |title=Howard’s history with PNG |url=http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20040730/weekend.htm |publisher='']'' |date=2004-07-30 |accessdate=2007-12-20 }}</ref> | ||
| To counter the growing German presence in the region, ] declared the ] a colony.<ref name="Post_Courier"/> | To counter the growing German presence in the region, the ]n state of ] declared the ] a colony.<ref name="Post_Courier"/> | ||
| Both the Queensland and German plantations thrived, providing opulent living conditions for the expatriates. Grand mansions were built on the plantations, complete with luxury furnishings.<ref name="Post_Courier"/> |
Both the Queensland and German plantations thrived, providing opulent living conditions for the expatriates. Grand mansions were built on the plantations, complete with luxury furnishings.<ref name="Post_Courier"/> Much of the labor was performed by New Guinea natives.<ref name="AGE_Marr"/> The towns of ] and ] were founded as a result of the economic activity surrounding the plantations.<ref name="Post_Courier"/> | ||
| After ], the ] saw Germany lose all its overseas colonies, including those in ].<ref name="AGE_Marr"/> In 1914, ] sent a small military force to capture the towns of ] and ]. Two Germans were killed in the process, while the remaining German plantation owners were initially sent back to work on their plantations.<ref name="Post_Courier"/> | After ], the ] saw Germany lose all its overseas colonies, including those in ].<ref name="AGE_Marr"/> In 1914, ] sent a small military force to capture the towns of ] and ]. Two Germans were killed in the process, while the remaining German plantation owners were initially sent back to work on their plantations.<ref name="Post_Courier"/> | ||
| ==Australian production== | |||
| In 1921, Australian Prime Minister ] proclaimed New Guinea an Australian territory. He established an Expropriation Board to dispossess the Germans of their land, and hand all 268 plantations to Australians.<ref name="Post_Courier"/> A scheme was devised to allow Australian ex-servicemen to purchase New Guinea plantations under extermely generous terms, as a reward for their services during ]. Ex-servicemen were required to pay 5% of the purchase price at the time of tender. A further 10% was paid three months later. The remainder of the money could be paid over a 20 year period at an interest rate of 5% per annum.<ref name="Peter_Cahill">{{Citation | last =Cahill | first =Peter | publication-date =2007-06 | title =A prodigy of wastefulness, corruption, ignorance and indolence: the Expropriation Board in New Guinea 1920-1927 | In 1921, Australian Prime Minister ] proclaimed New Guinea an Australian territory. He established an Expropriation Board to dispossess the Germans of their land, and hand all 268 plantations to Australians.<ref name="Post_Courier"/> A scheme was devised to allow Australian ex-servicemen to purchase New Guinea plantations under extermely generous terms, as a reward for their services during ]. Ex-servicemen were required to pay 5% of the purchase price at the time of tender. A further 10% was paid three months later. The remainder of the money could be paid over a 20 year period at an interest rate of 5% per annum.<ref name="Peter_Cahill">{{Citation | last =Cahill | first =Peter | publication-date =2007-06 | title =A prodigy of wastefulness, corruption, ignorance and indolence: the Expropriation Board in New Guinea 1920-1927 | ||
| Line 20: | Line 21: | ||
| }}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
| Between 1926 and 1927, 40,000 hectares of plantations were put on sale.<ref name="AGE_Marr" |
Between 1926 and 1927, 40,000 hectares of plantations were put on sale.<ref name="AGE_Marr">{{cite news |first=David |last=Marr |authorlink=David Marr (journalist) |title=Howard's hidden past |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/howards-hidden-past/2006/06/09/1149815316626.html |publisher='']'' |date=2006-06-10 |accessdate=2007-12-20 }}</ref> | ||
| German consortiums also placed bids in an attempt to reclaim some of their lost plantations, but the Australian government deemed those bids ineligible under the Treaty of Peace to own lands in New Guinea.<ref name="Peter_Cahill"/> | |||
| On 31 March, 1926, the Australian firm ] placed an advertisement in a ] newspaper, offering financial assistance for Australian ex-servicemen who wished to purchase New Guinea plantations. In return, Burns Philp asked would-be tenders to sign a Trading Agreement which assigned the company the right to sell all copra produced on the plantations. Another Australian trading company, W. R. Carpenter and Co Ltd, |
On 31 March, 1926, the Australian firm ] placed an advertisement in a ] newspaper, offering financial assistance for Australian ex-servicemen who wished to purchase New Guinea plantations. In return, Burns Philp asked would-be tenders to sign a Trading Agreement which assigned the company the right to sell all copra produced on the plantations. Another Australian trading company, W. R. Carpenter and Co Ltd, entered into similar agreements. Ex-servicemen who took part in the deal were known as ''copra dummies'', as they were acting as a front for the trading companies.<ref name="Peter_Cahill"/> | ||
| 41 ex-servicemen were allocated plantations on 1 June, 1926.<ref name="AGE_Marr"/> The ''dummies'' were paid an annual fee, while the trading companies operated the plantations at a |
41 ex-servicemen were allocated plantations on 1 June, 1926.<ref name="AGE_Marr"/> The ''dummies'' were paid an annual fee, while the trading companies operated the plantations at a profit.<ref name="Peter_Cahill"/> It would have been possible for the trading companies to bid for the plantations in their own name, but they would then have to pay twice the deposit (10% instead of 5%), and pay off the remainder in half the time. The trading companies thus opted to use the ''dummies'' as a cheaper means of acquiring use of the land. However, it thwarted the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes stated aim to offer "New Guinea for the returned serviceman".<ref name="AGE_Marr"/> | ||
| The practice of ''dummying'' was considered a scandal, in ], ] John Chapman declared: | The practice of ''dummying'' was considered a scandal, in ], ] John Chapman declared: | ||
| <blockquote>"Statements regarding dummying are so widely current, so persistent and so serious that I consider the Government should authorise an inquiry into them immediately."<ref name="AGE_Marr"/></blockquote> | <blockquote>"Statements regarding dummying are so widely current, so persistent and so serious that I consider the Government should authorise an inquiry into them immediately."<ref name="AGE_Marr"/></blockquote> | ||
| According to Sir John Middleton, the son the late New Guinea planter Bill Middleton who successfully bid for the plantation known as Kulili, "There were politicians involved back home. He threatened that if he didn't get Kulili he was going to blow the lid on the whole thing."<ref name="AGE_Marr"/> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 04:15, 17 March 2008
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "Copra plantations in New Guinea" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2008) |
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (March 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Copra Plantations in New Guniea have been cultivated since the late 1800's. Originally established by a colonial German presence, they were superceeded by Australian interests following World war 2.
German production
In 1884, German settlers arrived in New Guinea and planted copra, the dried flesh of the coconut. They formed a colony, known as German New Guinea, and established numerous coconut plantations around New Guinea's coastal areas. They were afraid of venturing too far inland.
To counter the growing German presence in the region, the Australian state of Queensland declared the territory of Papua a colony. Both the Queensland and German plantations thrived, providing opulent living conditions for the expatriates. Grand mansions were built on the plantations, complete with luxury furnishings. Much of the labor was performed by New Guinea natives. The towns of Port Moresby and Rabaul were founded as a result of the economic activity surrounding the plantations.
After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles saw Germany lose all its overseas colonies, including those in German New Guinea. In 1914, Australia sent a small military force to capture the towns of Kokopo and Rabaul. Two Germans were killed in the process, while the remaining German plantation owners were initially sent back to work on their plantations.
Australian production
In 1921, Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes proclaimed New Guinea an Australian territory. He established an Expropriation Board to dispossess the Germans of their land, and hand all 268 plantations to Australians. A scheme was devised to allow Australian ex-servicemen to purchase New Guinea plantations under extermely generous terms, as a reward for their services during World War I. Ex-servicemen were required to pay 5% of the purchase price at the time of tender. A further 10% was paid three months later. The remainder of the money could be paid over a 20 year period at an interest rate of 5% per annum.
Between 1926 and 1927, 40,000 hectares of plantations were put on sale. German consortiums also placed bids in an attempt to reclaim some of their lost plantations, but the Australian government deemed those bids ineligible under the Treaty of Peace to own lands in New Guinea.
On 31 March, 1926, the Australian firm Burns Philp & Company Limited placed an advertisement in a Melbourne newspaper, offering financial assistance for Australian ex-servicemen who wished to purchase New Guinea plantations. In return, Burns Philp asked would-be tenders to sign a Trading Agreement which assigned the company the right to sell all copra produced on the plantations. Another Australian trading company, W. R. Carpenter and Co Ltd, entered into similar agreements. Ex-servicemen who took part in the deal were known as copra dummies, as they were acting as a front for the trading companies.
41 ex-servicemen were allocated plantations on 1 June, 1926. The dummies were paid an annual fee, while the trading companies operated the plantations at a profit. It would have been possible for the trading companies to bid for the plantations in their own name, but they would then have to pay twice the deposit (10% instead of 5%), and pay off the remainder in half the time. The trading companies thus opted to use the dummies as a cheaper means of acquiring use of the land. However, it thwarted the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes stated aim to offer "New Guinea for the returned serviceman".
The practice of dummying was considered a scandal, in Canberra, Senator John Chapman declared:
"Statements regarding dummying are so widely current, so persistent and so serious that I consider the Government should authorise an inquiry into them immediately."
According to Sir John Middleton, the son the late New Guinea planter Bill Middleton who successfully bid for the plantation known as Kulili, "There were politicians involved back home. He threatened that if he didn't get Kulili he was going to blow the lid on the whole thing."
References
- ^ "Howard's history with PNG". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 2004-07-30. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Marr, David (2006-06-10). "Howard's hidden past". The Age. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Cahill, Peter (2007-06), A prodigy of wastefulness, corruption, ignorance and indolence: the Expropriation Board in New Guinea 1920-1927, The Journal of Pacific History, vol. 42, Routledge, doi:Online ISSN: 1469-9605, Print ISSN: 0022-3344, retrieved 2007-12-20
{{citation}}: Check|doi=value (help); Check date values in:|publication-date=(help)