New Tariff For Fiji.

How Deficit Was Caused and How Provided For.

THE October session of the Fiji Legislative Council was opened on October 13 by the Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher. In his opening address, His Excellency stressed the fact that although Fiji, in common with almost every country, has felt the effects of the economic depression, the Colony financially is fundamentally sound.

Dealing with the Budget proposals, he said that the original estimates for 1933 had now been revised and instead of a surplus of £9,000 as anticipated, the surplus would be only £700. This is due mainly to the fixation of the Fiji £1 at 11 per cent, under £1 sterling, thus necessitating an addi tional expenditure of £14,000 to cover exchange charges. The estimated deficit for the year 1934 is £23,847.

Such a large deficit will be caused by the low price of copra and the decline in the sugar output owing to excessive rain at planting time. To offset the deficit, last year’s surplus of £19,000 will be used and the balance will be taken from the Reserve Fund.

As a result of tne concessions granted by Fiji to the Empire, under the Ottawa Agreement, the Colony is losing over £3,000 a year in revenue and it is thought advisable to readjust the Colony’s tariff. Instead of the pre sent ad valorem basis for calculating duty, it is proposed to impose specific duties wherever practicable.

The Colony’s health, said the Governor, has been exceptionally good during the present year. To Dr. S. M.

Lambert, of the Rockefeller Foundation Institute, is due the praise for the excellent results of the soil sanitation campaign, which is decreasing the prevalence of hookworm, typhoid fever and dysentery in Fiji.