Bananas, New Zealand, And Fiji

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 8

Bananas, New Zealand, And Fiji

From time to time the banana trade causes friction between New Zealand and Pacific island suppliers. The rights and wrongs of such disputes are hard to measure. At a recent meeting, the Fiji Legislative Council discussed banana exports to New Zealand; and an elected European member, Mr John Falvey, urged the Council to “demand” more benevolent treatment from the Dominion’s Government for the Fijian industry. The Financial Secretary (Mr E. R. Bevington), replying to this and similar statements, warned the councillors against trying to dictate to New Zealand. “ Members should not “suggest too hastily something “which might be described in “New Zealand as a pressure “ group ”, said Mr Bevington. “ We are proud people, and like “to run our own show; and “that applies equally to New “Zealand”. The Fijian discussion has been commented upon by Mr C. R. Walker, general manager of Fruit Distributors, Ltd., which imports all New Zealand’s bananas. Mr Walker

has given some indication of the importers’ difficulties in allocating orders efficiently and fairly, and of the recent uncertainty of Fijian supplies compared with those from Western Samoa (a New Zealand trust territory) or Tonga. Inevitably there must be acute problems in dealing with gluts and shortages of a highly perishable commodity. The repercussions are worst for island peoples heavily dependent on a subsistence agriculture. According to Mr Walker, New 1 Zealand has “given Fiji every

“ encouragement to produce

“ bananas ”. But only two years ago the New Zealand Government dismayed the Fijian industry by import restrictions that resulted in a vigorous protest

by the Governor of Fiji (Sir Ronald Garvey) and in a visit to Wellington by a Fijian delegation. Subsequently the New Zealand Government assured the Fijians that it would do all it could—consonant with the availability of overseas funds, the interests of other traditional suppliers, and the Dominion s obligations to its own island territories—to permit "reason“able” imports of Fijian i bananas. Mr H. B. Gibson, an elected European member of the Fiji Legislative Council, suggested last week that another ' deputation should be sent to Wellington to discuss the banana trade. “It would be a good , " thing to say that it is part “ of our troubles that we cannot “ sell our bananas ”, said Mr Gibson. Last month’s rioting in Suva drew world attention to the colony’s economic plight, for the

riots were economic rather than political in origin. Last year there were two investigations into the Fijian economy. A British commission, headed by Sir Alan Burns, examined the colony’s natural resources and population trends; its recommendations on future economic and social developments are awaited. Independently, Professor O. H. K. Spate, of Canberra, reported on economic problems and prospects, with special emphasis on agriculture. Professor Spate predicted that by 1971 Fiji’s population (now about 375,000) is likely to be 584,000; and he advocated strenuous efforts to revitalise Fijian agriculture. The latent unrest among normally peaceable islanders was expressed briefly in December’s rioting. Fiji cannot help itself without substantial external assistance; that has been made clear by Sir Ronald Garvey and others familiar with Fijian perplexities. Fiji is well within New Zealand’s sphere of influence—probably much more so than many recipients of Colombo Plan aid. Irrespective of the banana trade, should not New Zealand do more to help Fiji?