Fiji Banana

Trade

Australian Attitude More Reasonable

IMPORTANT conversations concerning the Fiji-Australian banana trade took place late in February, during the visit of the Governor of Fiji, Sir Murchison Flet cher, to Sydney. By a fortunate coinci dence, Sir Maynard Hedstrom, of Fiji, was in Australia at the same time, on his way home from Europe, and these two made joint representations to various Australian interests which are almost certain to prove satisfactory to the Fijian growers.

The matter was discussed by the Gover nor and Sir Maynard Hedstrom with cer tain Federal Ministers in Melbourne; but real progress was made in the solution of the difficulty when the two Fijian repre sentatives reached Sydney.

Mr. A. S. Burton, who is the representa tive of important Sydney exporting in terests, had been in Suva a few weeks before, and there had learned something of the Fijian mercantile community’s interest in this matter of Fijian-Australian trade.

He had several discussions with leading business men, and formed the opinion that, unless Australia met Fiji in a reasonable fashion, Fiji unquestionably would re arrange its tariff so that it would place Australian goods at a disadvantage.

Mr. Burton thereupon communicated his views to his principals, with the result that urgent representations were made to the Sydney Chamber of Manufactures.

Following on that, the Chamber was in strumental in arranging a round-table conference between Sir Murchison Fletcher and Sir Maynard Hedstrom, on the one side, and leading Sydney shippers on the other.

There was a frank discussion, in which it was shown that Fiji provides a yearly market for anything from £400,000 to £750,000 worth of Australian products and manufactured goods; whereas in the past Australia has purchased Fiji goods to the value of less than £75,000 per annum. The Governor of Fiji, speaking in plain lan guage, said that such a position could not be contemplated with equanimity. It was the duty of the Fiji Government to see that, if Canada, for instance, bought £200,000 worth of Fiji products, Fiji should purchase her corresponding requirements in Canada rather than in other countries.

The Chamber of Manufactures was much impressed with the position as presented to them by the Fiji men, and the result is likely to be seen in strong representations to the Federal Government.

It may be said, however, that already the Federal Government has seen the light.

Most of the burdens which have been placed upon the banana trade in Australia —some by the automatic operation of foolish laws, and some as the result of deliberate en gineering by the banana growing interests in northern New South Wales —will be re moved at an early date.