FIJI EVENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 151, 29 June 1931, Page 9

FIJI EVENTS.

DIRECT SHIPPING WANTED. SUVA TO AUSTRALIA. POSSIBLE CLOSING OF. LEVUKA. (From Our Own Correspondent.)■ SUVA, June 19. The problem which is worrying, the public to-day, next to the low price of copra, is that of direct transport to Australia. The great majority of the white .population of v Fiji are Australians, or people of Australian stock, and they want to get to Australia, when a chance . offers, as fast and as cheaply as ■ possible. : Fpr some time the only direct service has been run by the Matson steamers, which take less than five days, and the fare is reasonable. Now the Matson Company has decided to run to ■ Sydney via Auckland, making the trip eight days, and the fare much more than before. The return fare by Mateon or Union, steamers will be £50.return. Just a little over a decade ago the return fare to Suva, from Sydney, first class, was £22. . The increase of over 100 per cent is too startling to be overlooked, and furious protests are heard in • Suva from people who say Fiji is being exploited. Australians may not want to travel via Auckland, and they generally like as short a sea voyage as and as cash is not over-, plentiful, the prospect of having to pay such , a large increase ,in fares is decidedly unpopular. There;have been reports of an invitation to some outside.company to run a direct service, and it has been seriously suggested that an appeal be' made to some Japanese line. There seems to be no doubt that Fiji Avill'not endure being cut off from. Australia. . There is a' .strong. rumour that the Governor thinks of closing' Levuka as a port of entry.. At present the shipping has decreased to .such an extent that it seems a luxury to keep many public officers in the old capital, necessitating a considerable annual expenditure, and at a time when stringent economy is necessary. The closing of the port would mean extra expense to all vessels loading or discharging 'at Leyuka.. as • they "WOlifcL'-&&££ t<MßQtQfr ta'&O?& tiOt-cieaX.

Camp For Unemployed. Like all her neighbours Fiji has her roll of unemployed. There are over two dozen Europeans, with the prospect of more to follow, and over 35 *half-castes, many of whom are carpenters and mechanics. The Agricultural Department has charge: of the Europeans, and has established a camp at the experimental farm at Naeinu, where the married men receive 10/ per day and the single .8/. They are clearing the land and will plant certain crops later.. The director ■ is anxious to make a showing of such citrus fruit as Fiji can best grow. The men seem contented and the mess costs about 9/weekly per head. The half-castes are a different proposition as they are artisans, and although the .Public Works Department has been asked to give, them work, it is being found.difficult to absorb so.many. There are many real cases of hardship in Suva, and storekeepers are helping all•_ they can to keep the people from starving. Struck by Propeller. Captain Eenton flew his Spartan 'plane ito Ba on Sunday, carrying the Hon. Hugh Ragg back home after the Legislative Council session. From-Ba he went to Lautoka, and when about to' leave was assisted by Mr. Dick Headon, the motor mechanic of Morris Hedstrom, Ltd. By some means or other Headon got in the way of the propeller just as it fired, and the blades cut down on his left shoulder. He was seriously injured, and the last report from the doctor was that his condition is serious. • ' Ketch Wrecked on Wakayai. Word reached Suva on June 17 that the auxiliary ketch Tui Natewa, owned by Morris Heds'trom, Ltd., had gone ashore on the most dangerous reef of the island of Wakaya the previous day. She was loaded with 600 sacks Qf copra and was making for Levuka. The owners at once made arrangements for salvage parties to go out to the island and take all steps to salvage both ship and cargo. The Tui Natewa is commanded by a native master, and is of 40 tons. She was only built, last year; by Marlow, Ltd., of Suva. ■ : . •."•■. Vice-Regal Tour. H.M.s. Laburnum, which arrived here from New Zealand on Saturday morning, will sail on Monday (June 22) on a tour of the area under the control of the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, carrying his Excellency, Sir Murchison Fletcher, to visit his widespread domain. The programme will include visits to the New Hebrides, the Solomons, Ocean Island, the Gilberts an.d, finally, the EUice Groajv Labiinmm WTftllea&e.

Funafuti on August 22, arriving in Suva on August 26. Banana Regulations. As a set-off 'against the' low price of copra, soii.e of the planters have decided to plant bananas, and the Government, wth a view to 'keeping the new fields clean, has issued a proclamation prohibiting any. banana plants being landed on Taveunj, Laucala, Qainea, etc., without, the consent of the Agricultural Department. This precaution should result in only clean plants being used in the new. areas. '..'.'.