BRITISH PREFERENCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17027, 12 August 1929, Page 12

BRITISH PREFERENCE

FIJI FEARS ITS LOSS DOOM OF SUGAR INDUSTRY SUVA, July 30. Speaking at a. gathering of business men of Suva on Monday Sir Henry Scott, K.C., sounded a note of warning as to what .was likely to happen to Fiji if the Labor Government m England pushes through its proposals to wipe out British preference completely. “Fiji will find itself in a very embarrassing position,” he said, “and it will be difficult for us to survive.” Fiji, he said, was largely dependent on the sugar industry. At least £750,000 was left in the dblony as a result of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co.’s activities each year in direct payments What amount was paid indirectly would be very hard to estimate. The" genera! manager of the company had openly stated that the company in Fiji was living solely on British preference, and he had no reason to doubt this. If preference were swept aside the colony would immediately go back to a state of stagnation. The company would cease operations and by far the greater portion of the revenue of the colony would be cut off. The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Bruce, had already cabled to the British Government pointing out the effect of the Snowden proposals on this country. He Understood New Zealand and Canada, were doing the same thing. Unless' the Crown Colonies were to take up the matter and speak with one voice they would find themselves in the same position. Sir Maynard Hedstrom said that while Canada was at present the larcest consumer of Fijian sugar, Canada would almost, certainly follow the British lea<3 and do away with the preference on sugar produced in British colonic.--Auckland Herald'.