N.Z. sugar purchases from Fiji

Press, 29 July 1977, Page 12

N.Z. sugar purchases from Fiji

Long-term agreements between Fiji and New Zealand for the supply of sugar to New Zealand have, in normal times, been most advantageous to Fiji, says Cedric Mentiplay, Wellington reporter of “The Press.” But whenever the world price has moved upward, Fiji has sought to have the agreement renegotiated, he said.

Mr Mentiplay was replying to a correspondent, Nigel Cooper, who criticised an article written by Mr Mentiplay. Mr Cooper’s letter appeared on July 26. In his reply, Mr Mentiplay writes:

“Nigel Cooper appears to have misread the intent of my article (“Where Should We Buy Our Sugar?”, July 11). I would let this pass, but for two 'Oints: 1. He has linked me with the New Zealand seamen in Fiji. 2. He has not read my article very closely. “We do not buy all our sugar from Fiji, but only 40,000 tons a year of our total requirement of 165,000 tons. What New Zealand has offered is a type of long-term agreement which. I suggest, has been most advantageous to Fiji in normal times. “If left alone, our arrangements may well have ballanced oit; but every time there has been an upward movement in world prices there has been a demand from Fiji for renegotiation. Negotiations which began last May have been twice held up by Fiji — mainly. I gather from Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, so that the result of the Lome Convention could be assessed.

“This attitude has hardly reflected the trust and gratitude of our neighbours, which Nigel Cooper suggests we should be seeking; nor has Ratu Mara’s recent election speech about forgetting old arrangements and turning to the Soviet Union and China.

“Actually, the Lome Convention turned out well for Fiji, in that it has obtained permission to sell 163.000

tons of sugar to E.E.C. countries each year at $390 a ton. This has meant a rise, in Fiji’s demands to New Zealand.

“Does Nigel Cooper believe that the New Zealand housewife should be asked to pay the difference between a fair and economic world price and a welfare price for her household sugar? That difference is about $9O a ton," writes Mr Mentiplay.