THE ISLAND VISIT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10544, 22 March 1920, Page 5

THE ISLAND VISIT

FIJI’S SUGAR CROP PAW-TAMENTARIANS VISIT THE PLANTATIONS. PARTY DUE “AT AUCKLAND THURSDAY. Press Association. —ireless from Mokoia. The Parliamentary party visited Lautoka on Thursday. As the result of the .courtesy of the officers of the ■ Colonial Sugar Company, this proved an© of the most, instructive visits of the tour. In two days they travelled over 120 miles oh a narrow gauge railway along the coast-lino through alluvial plains, great areas of which were planted with sugar-cane. Sugar is Fiji’s biggest crop, and New Zealand her biggest customer. There is now no indentured labour in Fiji. Field workers are paid halt a, crown per day as against a shilling before the war, and find their own food. Many Hindus lease blocks ot five acres and grow cane. All the planters: ire guaranteed for 1920 an average of fifteen shillings per ton for cut. cane delivered at the mill free over the company’s railways. The crops average about? twenty-five tons . per acre. . , * The planters are anxious that the New Zealand Government should negotiate with the company for at least a three-years’ agreement in order that the price be guaranteed to planters foi that period which represents the cropping life 6f sugar-cane. It is stated that as a result of the uncertainty owing to the short twelvemonths' agreement some are refraining from planting, and no new development has been undertaken. The planters contend also that it is to, the interest of New Zealand consumers to have the price fixed for , a _ longer period. Before the war the price was " guaranteed for five years. The company’s Lautoka. mill is one the world’s largest. Aftpr the cane is fed into the elevafors i it is not . touched through the whole pro cess _ till it is sewn into hags and lifted into trucks. The party will, now probably reach Auckland on March 2oth.