PROGRESS OF FIJI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20380, 11 April 1928, Page 9

PROGRESS OF FIJI.

DEVELOPMENT OF DAIRYING. BULK OF TRADE WITH NEW ZEALAND. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, April 10. “ I think one may regard the prospects of Fiji as very bright,” said Sir Eyre Hutson, Governor of the Island Crown Colony and High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, who arrived by the Aorangi yesterday after a holiday in Australia. “ There is a very intimate and friendly connection between Fiji and New Zealand,” he said. “ Most of our dairy stock comes from the Dominion, several New Zealand farmers are holders of Fijian land, our school teachers are all drawn from New Zealand, and the same country is still the principal market for our fruit. We are going ahead very satisfactorily, and we are now developing markets in other lands. The growth of our dairy enterprise is one of the principal causes for this expansion.” Sir Eyre Hutson refermi to the financial stability of Fiji, which, he said, was clearly proved by the recent loan of £750,000 issued in London being oversubscribed at 5 per cent. An important programme of public works had recently been adopted, including the erection of a new Government house at Suva at a cost of £25,000. The reception of loan wac very encouraging, to those who believed in the future of Fiji. The Governor spoke well of the Indian population, now. numbering over 66,000, nearly all of whom were employed as agricultural labourers. They worked welt, and he would like to ace the number doubled. Farming was in prosperous condition, and there was still good land available on reasonable leasing terms. On the flat land the paspalum grass-in-dustry was going ahead in encouraging fashion. The importations of dairy produce from New Zealand were being restricted, and Fiji, through its two proprietary dairy companies, had already become an exporter of butter to Great Britain. Fruit was being exported principally to New Zealand, the high Protective duties being a handicap to the development of this trade with Australia, Sir Eyre Hutsbn has been High Commissioner of the Western Pacific and Governor of Fiji for three years. The area over which he exercises jurisdiction on behalf of the Crown includes the Solomon Islands, the Gilbert and Ellice Groups, the New Hebrides and Tonga, and a wide ocean domain.