FIJIAN AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 241, 8 October 1920, Page 5

FIJIAN AFFAIRS.

i - SCARCITY OF kABOUK. I, Amongst passengers by tlie Atna from Fiji yesterday was Mr. J. G. Rowley, ! ' wtio is returning to Sydney after his i usual trip with horses. In course of conversation Mr. Rowley stated that j business in Fiji is generally somewhat ■ • slow at present, though from a financial i point of view it has improved consider-} ably. "Since my last visit," he said, "an income tax has been imposed. Any person making more than £1000 per annum paye £r>. The result is that many new firms have been created among the: family circle. Labour is still a source of worry to the planters, and the Gov- I crnment appears not further advanced' with this knotty question. It is a question extremely hard to solve. Although J the sugar crops are excellent this season, | .many planters, owing to the shortage of I labour, have been unable to plant the full extent of their areas, llnless the matter ! is very quickly solved disaster must i follow. There has been A bountiful' supply of copra, and leading growers | have formed an association, and if the price wanted is not forthcoming, propose to ship direct to foreign markets. I The banana trade is rapidly on the down i ! grade, owing to a disease which has over- ! j taken tho crops. Whole fields, not acres, I but miles, are out of commission, render- ■ ing the commodity very scarce. Many I I suggestions have been made without the ] ! slightest improvement. This affects the ' whole colony, except Sigatoka, which id: at present producing splendid fruit, and good crops. As all other attempts to ! improve has failed, it is now up to the ' Fiji Government to take a hand and S appoint an expert, if necessary, from some othe country, before this industry ie wiped out. An attempt haa beeii made at dairying—returned soldiers having been settled onthe land at Tailevn, rin the Wai Bula River, about 54 miles from Suva. The area is ■splendidly! adapted for the purpose for which it lias ! been chosen, but perhaps it is a little too far away. No doubt the Rewa River would be nearer, but the present nrea , will prove equal; at present it is ap-! proacliable only by water, but the road is now within 18 miles of the settlement. .' The soldier settlers are a happy lot, a , band of young fellows, but they have a j heavy task before them, having yet to ' clear, fence, build homes, a dairy, ice j works, insulated, steam or trucks (if by ! road or water), a bacon curnig factory, stock the fields, etc.: it may prove too much. Fiji imports atrcut £12,000 worth of butter annually. "There has set in a boom for cottongrowing throughout the islands. It proved a great success during the American Civil War. The Government is supplying the eced. It is the price alone which will render it non-successful. Gold mining is now being tried. That there ! is gold has been proved direct, but '• whether profitable or otherwise this mysterious industry has yet to bo proved. Building material hae been exceedingly scarce throughout the island for a long time, principally cement, timber, and galvanised iron. Many Government contracts, besides private enterprises, have ' been held up. The company which in- '■ tended starting a meat canning establishment has decided not to proceed further, *" with the result that 100,000 acres lean-id , by it was Bold at auction."