Fiji's Crops

Sugar and Copra Prospects Bright

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, January 21.

THE year opened with prospects of better crops in the three export ing industries of sugar, copra and bananas.

Owing to the favourable climatic con ditions, the recovery from the hurri canes of 1929-31 has continued un checked, and, as this improvement seems to coincide with the prospect of better prices in the not far distant future for sugar and copra, there may be said to be a brighter aspect all round.

Beneficial rains have fallen in the sugar districts and all mills report that the cane is growing splendidly. It is common talk that the tonnage will run into six figures in sugar and that, if the same conditions continue, 1933 may easily see a record output. The Indian cultivators will benefit directly, but in directly the whole of the Colony will share in the good things.

Opinions vary somewhat about copra prospects. Mr. Edward Duncan, a re cognised authority, forecasts an export from the Colony of only 20,000 tons during 1932. In 1929, our export was 33,000 tons, but this fell in 1931 to 17,000 tons. Other authorities are in clined to put the figures somewhat higher. Like sugar, the recovery is on account of favourable climatic condi tions.

Bananas have jumped tremendously.

In February last year, 6,000 cases were exported, but low water mark was touched in April with only 2,500 cases.

It is not too much to say that if market conditions and shipping oppor tunities suited, we could ship 25,000 to 30.000 cases in February this year.

Bananas have been planted up all over Fiji and the quality of the ship ments going to New Zealand is the best for many a long day. The Tofua, in the middle of January, took 20,000 cases, but cables advised that the top price realised was 10/-. After deduction of the freight to Auckland (4/-) and the selling agents’ commission, there will probably remain not much more than 4/- to 5/- to be returned to ship pers in Fiji.

Out of this the shippers must pay for the cost of the cases (1/6), the cost of Government inspection (6d.) and the cost of transport of the fruit from the nlace where it is grown to Suva (about 1/6). However, this sort of thing hap pens every now and again in the banana industry, and a cheap banana in New Zealand means increased con sumption, eventually better prices and, finally, a healthier industry all round.

At the end of 1930, 121 private cars and 81 commercial trucks were regis tered in Tonga. Benzine in the King dom costs 2/6 per gallon.

Copra exported from Tonga for 1930 totalled 14,134 tons and was valued at £169,610. For the previous year, 16,841 tons were exported, the value being £252,911.