FARMING IN TROPICS

Feilding Star, Volume 6, Issue 1911, 23 May 1928, Page 4

FARMING IN TROPICS

RETURNED -MEN IN FIJI MEAT CANNING NDUSTRY In some of the islands, notably Fijb there lms in recent years arisen an infant farming industry, seeking to establish itself besile the growing of tropical fruits for which these climes are preeminently suited. Captain F. 11. Rillington, principal of Flock House, near Palmerston, returned by tlte ToL'ua from it holiday recently. ;md gave some ol his im-

pressions of agricultural enteipiiso. In Fiji, he said, the Government laid set tied a number of its returned soldiers on dairy farms —many, of them quite large holdings, judged by the New Zealand standard, being about 500 acres in extent. in most ensus there would be about .lot) acres flat ami the balance undulating or hillv touhiry. The grass was mostly |mspal um and para, hut even with such large ,acreages about half the soldier settlors had experienced difficulties which beset their New Zealand brothers in arms when they re-entered civil l’fe us farmers. As in New Zealand, the Government of Fiji bad found the sell lenient of these men somewhat costly, bin had determinedly adhered to its plan to give them a footing. There were two or three buffer factories uuiU»State management, hut it was proposed that, next year they' should, if possible, bo made co-operative concerns. Naturally', they were small, for there were not a great many dairy farmers besides the soldiers, but sufficient butter was made to meet local requirements and leave something over for 'export. No doubt, said Captain BilBnglon. the dairy herds of Fiji, composed mainly of Ayrshire's and Jerseys. would be further improved by import at ions from New Ze,aland. 8 h cep fa tuning was practically nonexistent. and lie was informed that the people were not sufficiently inlAcsted in as yet to extensively import high-grade animals for Hock improvement. However, a meat canning enterprise had commenced about.

.x mourn ago and was expected to greatly curtail the former importations of canned ineai from Die Dominion. Rigs appeared to lie plentiful in Fiji, hut they were mostly “Captain • ’lookers.” there being little evidence as yet of an attempt tit swine husbandry on advanced lines. While ii had always to bo remem-’ b«rcd that, the growing of tropical nits was the natural occupation of the islands, it was patent that farming. too, had gained some place in Dm activities of the white population, although its future was, to the visitor. at, any rate, not clear.