FIJI'S RECOVERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22808, 18 February 1936, Page 5

FIJI'S RECOVERY

CONDITIONS IN THE COLONY; SUGAR NEGOTIATIONS .'.\ IMPORTANT : (Special to Daily Times) '■'•■'• AUCKLAND, February 17. "Fiji' is in the happy condition of. being solvent and has, been "able to balance its Budget," said Sir Henry Scott, K.C., who arrived by the Aorangi on a short holiday .visit to the Dominion, .during'which ;he will fish" both at Russell • and Taupo. Sir Henry, who is a- member of both the Executive arid Legislative Councils of Fiji, is joining Lady Scott, who has been in Auckland for some time. , , A number of factors were playing their part in the present recovery in the colony, stated Sir Henry. The recent, discovery of gold: and the development of mining had naturally benefited the local trade,; and industry had now reached,the,stage when goodmines were coming to a; profitable phase, while those that'were not good would go out. The improvement of. copra prices had also been extremely welcome, especially 'as coconut growing Was still. One of the basic industries. The rapidly increasing tourist traffic had received a still further impetus "from the building of a road round' the main island. This road, which was upward of 200 miles in length; would shortly be completed, and would provide visitors with every opportunity of seeing the true beauties of typical Fijian scenery. ' . ' '"The. colony is at present deeply interested in the sugar negotiations being conducted in Britain," Sir Henry said. 'With sugar forming the principal product of Fiji, any reduction In output would be a serious thing for us. Every drop of 10,000 tons out of the normal yield of up to 150,000 tons would be a serious thing, especially under the prevailing system of tenant growers, who sell their cane to the main company."