AUSTRALIA AND FIJI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16713, 20 April 1922, Page 7

AUSTRALIA AND FIJI.

PROHIBITIVE DUTY. POSITION OF SUCAR INDUSTRY. By Telegraph—Pres# Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 20. 10.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 20. Mr Maynard Hedstrom, of Morris Hedstrom and Co.. Fiji, who is sailing to-day lor Suva, said that Australia had practically ruined the banana industry of Fiji by the prohibitive duty, which. incidentally, had inflicted a groat injury on her own trade, as Fiji much preferred to trade with New Zealand, where it. always received sympathy and consideration and was treated like a. big brother. If Australia desired to resume trade relationships she would have to admit Fiji’s products at reasonable rates. He doubted whether the idea of carrying on the sugar industry with white labour by farmers with small holdings was practicable. The scheme depended on the preference given by New Zealand, but that was imperial preference, nnd Fiji sugar under such conditions would be compelled to compete against that grown in other tropical parts of the Empire with black labour. He was ol opinion that the Colonial Sugar Refining Company should havo paid the Indian labourers at tho 2s rate, not Is (id, even if it meant diminished profit, as tho cost of living was still high. Otherwise the labourers would remove to those- districts where sugar was not grown, and the}’ would not be available when required later on.