Fiji’S Wealth.

Export Trade Figures Increased Again.

THE famous “rich uncle in Fiji” is becoming something more than a phantasy.

We have to hand another lot of remarkable figures from Fiji, showing the oversea trade position of that prosperous Crown Colony. The following totals are for the six months ended June 30 in each year;

It is satisfactory to note that imports have increased, so that they now balance exports, indicating a healthy and lively condition of trade in the Colony. Last year, exports were far in excess of imports, giving rise to the belief that too large a proportion of the Colony’s earnings were being drained away in dividends to nonresident shareholders in sugar-growing companies. Incidentally, it should be remembered that Fiji has also an in disclosed export, in the shape of interest (plus exchange) on funds of the Fiji Government invested abroad.

Imports— 1932. £ Suva ... 241,110 . . 331,404 1933. £ Levuka 14,211 . 18,193 Lautoka 98,062 . . 190,278 Total Imports . . . ... 353,383 . . 539,875 Exports— Suva . .. 133,383 . . 199,566 Levuka Lautoka ... 33,051 . 47,742 Lautoka . .. 253,486 . . 286,921 Total Exports ... . .. 419,920 , . 534,229 Exports in detail — Sugar ... 248,276 . . 332,003 Copra 61.279 . 94,148 Bananas . . . 34,162 . 34,247 Molasses 2,080 . 4,491 Trocas 6,100 . 11,093 Other articles 68,021 . 58,247