FIJI TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 84, 10 April 1933, Page 3

FIJI TRADE.

VISITING MINISTER.

BANANAS FOR AUSTRALIA.

TOURIST TRAFFIC DISCUSSED.

According to the Hon. A. C. Barnes, Minister for Agriculture, Fiji, New South Wales bananas threaten to come into serious competition with the Island product. He arrived by the Marama this morning, and stated that he had visited the Commonwealth to gain firsthand information in respect to the condition Fiji bananas arrived, and to obtain the views of merchants as to quality, packing, etc. "I found some minor defects," he said, "but otherwise everything was all right."

Discussing the quota system, Mr. Barnes said there was no likelihood of the Australian quantity decided upon— 4000 cases a month —being increased. The quota for New Zealand varied according to the season. The total cases allowed from Tonga and Fiji was 15,000 every four weeks during the summer, and 12,000 cases during the winter. "Merchants I met who are interested in trade with New Zealand appeared confident that something would be done in respect to the embargo on New Zealand fruit and vegetables," said Mr. Barnes. "One merchant said that within a very short time potatoes would" be going across the Tasman from the Dominion. The banana growing industry is rapidly extending both in Queensland and New South Wales, and I feel that something will have to be done to increase consumption. The Tweed River area in New South Wales under banana cultivation has been doubled during the last year or two, and there are now 13,000 acres planted out. The money received in Customs duty from Fiji bananas is being applied by an expert committee in research work to foster the growing of the fruit and in propaganda, an 'eat more bananas' campaign having been started!"

Asked how the quality of the New South Wales banana compared with that of Fiji, Mr. Barnes said that an expression of opinion from him might be regarded as biased, but he could say that generally speaking the product of Fiji was superior in texture and flavour to the Australian-grown banana. Planters in New South Wales certainly recognised the competition, and were endeavouring to produce the best that the soil and climate would permit. The prices were about the same for the Island and Commonwealth fruit.

Mr, Barnes said the Fiji Government was doing its best at the present time to foster tourist traffic. Fiji offered undoubted attractions to the New Zealander during the Dominion's winter season. Many people did not realise that Suva was only three days' travel from Auckland, and the islands were free from malaria and other tropical diseases, and living was cheap.

Mr. Barnes will be in New Zealand until May 2.