FINANCES OF FIJI

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11046, 1 November 1921, Page 7

FINANCES OF FIJI

• DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR. COUNTRY SUFFERS MANY CALAMITIES. SUVA (Fiji). October 24Fiji is a wonderfully prosperous colony in normal times, but since the Armistice she has beep, hit by every, kind of dispiriting calamity, including hurricanes, Australian shipping strikes; Indian riote. Ices of banana market in Australia, and Government House burned. .Sins has also had to face £IOO,OOO extra expenditure in connection with her returned men. To meet all this, she has even- one of her producing'interests facing low, unprofitable markets, which naturally affects her revenue. It is therefore no remarkable -thing to find her cast from her proud estate of showing a credit balance in her public accounts and without any public debt; as was the case three years ago. The Receiver-General issued, a statement for the half-year on Friday, showing a deficit of £28,560, in spite of an increased revenue of JSISOfiOO from the new income tax. The receipts total .£341,457, as against .£203,830 for the same term lastvear. The chief items are: Customs, .£138,967 (last year £121,227); licensee, exams, etc., £152,61 2 (£20,371). - ' . The expenditure totalled £870,017, as against £220,904. The chief items were: Defence, £5759 (£2980); miscellaneous, £75,715 (£49,069); immigration. .£90,623 (£6433); public works (establishment),' £15,803 (£9097); recurrent, £27,819 (£18,022); extraordinary, £23,927 (£15,056). However, the chief expenditure was in connection with the Indians, partly expenses over the strike, and partly cost of repatriating them to India. It is stated that the Government expect the Home Government to help them with a loan to tide .over present special oosts, and there is no fear that with d return to normal conditions, Fiji ; will once again be able to show a credit balance. We have few pessimists here as to onr ultimate prosperity.