Fiji, Samoa And Tonga May Arrange Quota

System For Supplying Bananas To N.Z.

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, July 7.

ONLY 9,000 cases of bananas were shipped by the “Waipahi” in May to Auckland. The prices realised were disastrous, and most shippers think themselves lucky if they get back 3/- a case from their Auckland agents.

As the cost of the case is 1/5d. the Government tax 5d., and the transport to Suva average 1/6d., there is nothing left over for the unfortunate shipper who has to buy the fruit from the Fijian at 1/6 a case.

The law of supply and demand re duced the shipment by the “Waipahi” in June to 7,400. Results are not to hand at time of writing, but even the most cheery optimist amongst shippers does not expect to get back more than 4/-. Admittedly, the price always de clines in winter, and the thought of a banana on a cold, slushy day is hardly likely to fill one with sufficient longing to purchase the fruit.

The “Aorangi” and the “Niagara” usually take 3,000 cases apiece, so that it amounts to this —New Zealand has only been able to absorb about 9,000 cases a month from Fiji and as high as 12,000 cases have been sent there.

This is a state of affairs which can not be expected to last. The Govern ment despatched the Hon. A. C. Barnes, our very capable and live wire Director of Agriculture, to New Zealand to in vestigate the position. He found that there was definite talk of placing some restriction or duty upon the entry of Fiji bananas into New Zealand, so that the New Zealand market could be re served for Samoa. If Fiji continued to pour in comparatively huge quantities of bananas into New Zealand, the mar ket would be kept continually sub merged and the prospects of action by the New Zealand Government brought continually closer.

After Mr. Barnes’ return, the Fiji Government acted promptly, and intro duced legislation at the last session of the Legislative Council, giving power to restrict the total shipments from Fiji to such a figure as seemed desir able. Regulations were accordingly drafted and have been kept most con fidential as yet.

The Director of Agriculture is to ad dress a meeting of shippers on July 8 and to lay the completed regulations before them. No banana shipper in Fiji has ever been known to agree with any other shipper for more than two min utes in succession, so that the Director of Agriculture and his efficient Inspec tor of Produce, Mr. Ackland, will doubt less be assailed by contrary opinions on this, that, and the other regulation.

However, the Director and his In spector of Produce are well endowed with that particular kind of philosophic humour which regards the abuse of banana shippers as one of the inci dentals of life, so that we do not im agine the meeting will develop into a Donnybrook.

Rumour has it that an arrangement has been arrived at in conjunction with the Governments of Tonga and of Samoa. The capacity of the New Zea land market is to be assessed and on a basis of a monthly absorption of 20,000 cases, Tonga’s proportion is to be 3,000 cases Samoa 7,000 cases, and Fiji 10,000 cases. However, these figures must be accepted with reserve, as the subject is still under discussion.