ISLAND NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 301, 18 December 1917, Page 2

ISLAND NEWS.

(Frc=J«. Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA (Fiji). December 14. FIJI RUBBER. Word has been received locally tbat the Australian Government has arranged for Australian manufacturers to absorb all rubber produced in Fiji, Samoa, and Papua. Tbe prices to be paid will be Singapore values, f.o.b. plus charges from port of shipment. This is the first occasion Australia has given any kindly consideration to Island products, and there is a hope amoug growers that it is an indication that there is a new outlook coming into existence there. Hitherto most of the rubber going from Fiji has been sent, to America, where it has realised top prices. Still the advantage of having a certain market right at hand is obvious. BANANA BUYING. The local European buyers combined recently to resist the demands of the natives for high prices for bananas, which were soaring up beyond all reason. The natives, many of them, had formed a company known as the Viti Company, and had endeavoured to control the market through this company. For instance, they would not sell to Europeans without an order from this company. The warfare went on for some few weeks, and the natives had just about given in, and were prepared to accept a reasonable price for their fruit, when the end came. One buyer, without acquainting the other members of the Association, went back on thiß pledge not to pay more than a certain price. Another, hearing of this, followed, and then the rot set in. After a stormy meeting, in which threats and epithets were hurled in all directions, the Association was disbanded.