FIJI'S RESOURCES

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 25 February 1901, Page 4

FIJI'S RESOURCES

A great deal of misconception exists in Xew 2«aland as to the manner of life, latent resources and present industries of the Fiji group. There is a widespread impression that it is a lotus-eating land, from which are excluded the strenuous strivings common to existence in more temperate climates. This is hardly the case. In this particular Fiji differs largely from Tonga, Rarotonga, and, though in lesser degree, Samoa. The climate of the group which has loomed so prominently on our colony's horizon of late, as much through the autocratic action of its Governor as by reason of New Zealand's advances, is healthy, even if a little enervating. Business activities are by no means crippled by uncongenial climate, as in some tropical countries.

The industries of Fiji are of longstanding, and have attained considerable proportions. A total trade, approximating three-quarters of a million in value, represents extensive commercial activity. The variety contributing to this total, comprising as it does most tropical products of commercial value, was done justice to in a series of articles in our columns last week.

But though the trade of these islands has attained some dimensions, it is but a fraction of what might have been achieved under more favourable conditions. The latent "fertility of Fiji's valleys is capable of steadily producing almost unlimited' quantities of tropical products, such as sugar, tea, coffee, cotton, copra, tobacco, vanilla and fruits. The islands also are not disadvantageously situated for making each and all of these industries pay. There are the handicaps of occasional hurricanes, and the rapid multiplication of parasites to contend with, but these are evils common to all countries of similar geographical position. In nearly every case where any particular departure in the cultivation of tropical products has failed it would be easier to trace the want of sucjeess to incompetent management, or to too restricted production, than to baneful qualities inherent in soil or climate.

The general stagnation of Fiji has choked the growth of its natural industries. That the unprogressive state of the islanJs over a great number of years is due to the crippling effects of the overwhelming civil service list and a Government composed for all practical purposes of the Governor, there remains no room for doubting. With the yoke removed and the people- possessed of something more than a travesty of representative government, the whole aspect of the case would undergo a transformation. We have only to glaihce at the phenomenal strides made by Hawaii under recent stimulating influences to appreciate the value of such a group as the Fijis.

The residents have long been «^wake to the unsatisfactory nature of the Crown colony form of Government, but them efforts to find in Borne di-

_ — —— - ■ , reetiou a remedy are of eompara- , liveiv recent origin, in a clooc uniuu j wun Australia or .New ieaiaud, noi j only would residents, bom vvmtejand ! black, lind conditions of life liberal- ( ised, but the commercial sphere of activity ol the group would be^ indefinitely enlarged. \*'e in New Zealand, in our willingness to extend j benefits we ourselves enjoy to our I t'eilow colonists in i-'iji and lire abor- j igiuals of the group, must recognise tuat a federation is ouiy possible after the solution of sucn diuicult problems as that of coloured labour. Without the employment of coolies and other dark-skinned workers, the utilisation j of the natural productiveness of the j islands is impossible. This, the gravet\st of the obstacles to federation, is not, we believe, insuperable, and we hope to" see Fijian aitairs put, in the near future, on a more satisfactory footing, either by a closer connection with New Zealand, or by the granting j of a measure of representative government which would give residents power in the regulation of fheir own affairs.