Rhinoceros Beetle

Additional Precautions in Fiji

Coconut Planters’

Union Acts

A DEPUTATION of directors of the Coconut Planters’ Union Ltd., of Fiji, waited upon His Honour, the Governor’s Deputy, in Suva, recently, and received an assurance that ves sels coming from Apia, Samoa, would not be permitted to remain alongside the wharf at Suva at night time.

This action was rendered desirable by the fact that Apia is badly in fested with the rhinoceros beetle, which causes damage to coconuts.

The question was raised when the Tofua this year commenced to load bananas at Apia and then on her arrival at Suva to load further bananas.

The directors of the Coconut Plan ters’ Union at the time approached the Acting Governor and, as a result, more stringent action was taken.

It was noticed that on a recent trip the Tofua, en route from Apia to Auck land, remained alongside Suva wharf at night.

In view of a warning by Mr. T. H. C.

Taylor, published in The Agricultural Journal of Fiji, the directors of the Coconut Planters’ Union felt that the mere presence of the Tofua alongside the wharf at night, with the wharf lights burning brightly, provided an element of danger to the coconut in dustry of the Colony, and, therefore, pressed for action which would obviate the recurrence of this danger.