Big Pacific Enterprise

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 8

Big Pacific Enterprise

Pineapple Canning in Fiji

AMBITIOUS proposals for the cultivation and canning of pineapples in the Fiji Islands are now being investigated by the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, the largest concern of its kind in the world.

If operations are started there, the trade between Aus tralia and the Islands will be affected.

The pineapple industry is the second largest industry in the Hawaiian Islands, ranking only behind sugar in importance. Last year, the export of canned pineapples from Honolulu was in the neighbourhood of 9,000,000 cases, valued at about £7,500,000. The greater part of this output was absorbed by the United States, which is a continually growing market. The pineapple cannery of Hawaii finds itself faced with certain difficulties. Most of the suitable land is already under cultivation, and in some parts of Oahu, probably owing to overcultivation, certain diseases are affecting the pineapple plants. VISIT TO FIJI Sir Meynard Hedstrom, of Morris Hedstrom, Ltd., Fiji, has now interested the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, the largest concern of its kind in the world, in the growth of “British Pines for British People,’* and at his instigation a delegation visited Fiji a few months ago. Here it was found that pineapples equal in quality to those grown in Hawaii could be produced and canned in Fiji. After their return to Honolulu the members of the delegation reported to their directors, and the company was sufficiently interested in the prospects to enter into an agreement with the Fijian Government whereby they pay the cost of keeping the existing pineapple fields in cultivation for 12 months, and, further, they have taken an option over a block of land comprising 60,000 acres, which they consider eminently suitable for pineapple growing. Another delegation has been sent to Singapore to investigate the conditions there, and, under its arrangement with the Fijian Government, the Hawaiian Pineapple Company will come to a decision before the end of this year as to where the canning fac-

tory will be established. If the company comes to the conclusion that first quality pineapples can be produced in Malaya, the appeal of cheap labour probably will decide them to commence their operations in that country. If, on the other hand, they find that for some reason the pineapples produced about Singapore are not equal to those produced in Hawaii and Fiji, it seems almost certain that they will form a company in Fiji and commence operations on a large scale. These proposals will mean much to the Fiji Islands, which at present are dependent almost entirely on Sugar, copra and bananas. If the Hawaiian company takes up the option on the 60,000 acres of land, which have been made available by the Government, it will mean the foundation of an enterprise, which, in the not distant future, will rival in importance the enterprise of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Ltd. WORKING WITH HAWAII One pineapple company, registered in Auckland as the Fijian Pineapple Company, Ltd., already has commenced operations in Fiji, Sir Meynard Hedstrom points out, but its plans provide for development on a very modest scale. Another important factor is that Fiji is comparatively close to Hawaii with regular and frequent steamers, and as pineapples are a seasonal crop, a system of co-operation between the Fijian and Hawaiian factories is contemplated. The people of Fiji are watching developments with considerable interest, ! because the Hawaiian Pineapple Com- ! panv is the biggest concern of its kind in the world. Tt has knowledge, experience and abundant capital. Further, Sir Meynard explains, if they start operations in Fiji, substantial development of the agricultural resources of that Gountry must follow.