Cheap Commodities

Australia Ignores Her Chances

“One of the most puzzling things to me is the failure of Australia to take advantage of the cheap supplies which she could obtain at so little cost from the nearer islands,” said Mr. A. J.

Vogan, F.R.G.S., a well known Pacific traveller, to The Pacific Islands Monthly.

“There is timber, for instance. There are huge supplies of magnificent tim ber in the different groups, right at our doors. Yet we buy the American softwoods that are forced upon us by rings and combines. The most ex quisite things can be made from the grained timbers of Fiji and New Cale donia.

“The people here are starving for fish, and the prices are kept mon strously high; yet Lord Howe Island, only a comparatively few hours’ steam away, could supply all the fish that Sydney needs, at very low prices.

“The finest island bananas should be sold for a penny per pound in Syd ney. Instead, in her tariff madness, Australia keeps out the Fiji banana, feeds her children on poor quality stuff at high prices, and allows a little ring to make fortunes out of Queensland bananas.

“As for the cost of living in Australia —words fail me. Folk live comfortably enough in Fiji on one-sixth of what an Australian labourer earns. In New Caledonia you can buy for sixpence enough fish to keep a family for a week. You can live at the best hotel in Noumea ; with wine at every meal, for five shillings a day—less, up-coun try. Yet, Australians who want cliange of scene and people go off on most expensive trips to Colombo, and such places!”