PLACID FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1931, Page 3

PLACID FIJI.

REDUCED BANANA SUPPLIES. MUCH HURRICANE DAMAGE. TOFUA'S SMALL SHIPMENT. "Fiji is a pleasant and stable refuge from the ills of the world to-day," said Major C. B. Joske, who arrived in Auckland yesterday on bis second visit during the last three months. "Though we are at times disposed to complain of the chill wind of the general commercial storm," he added, "we have nothing much to worry about in the sunny isle. Sugar is down, and so is copra; but then so is every other commodity except gold. One might say, in view of hurricanes which smashed us in December, ,1929, November, 1930, and February, 1931, that our collective head is 'bloody but unbowed.' "These happenings have destroyed the banana groves of the Fijians, so much that where a few years ago the steamer Tofua's cargo at this season of the year was usually about 20,000 cases, this time she has brought to Auckland only 2700 cases. In fact, the cargo would have been " smaller still had not Captain Davey searched for and chased a cutter delayed by stormy weather and finally transported her complement of fruit into the Tofua. This was done 60 miles out of Suva, in the open sea. "It is true that the big floods experieneced recently washed away the old plants, but there has been a compensating factor. It is that a wonderful layer of rich silt has been deposited over the gardens. This should make for bountiful crop 6 in twelve or eighteen months, and the supplies, augmented with Tongan and Samoan shipments, should <¥nable the local prices, to return to 2d per pound. Increased consumption is an advantage, and the Fijian product, with reasonable care, is recognised for its higli quality."