The Boom In Fiji

FIJI provides a remarkable illustration of the efficiency of British colonisa tion,” commented Mr. V. Cornaga on his return to Auckland recently.

Commenting on the influence of the newly-established gold-mining industry, to be seen in Suva and the country districts, he said that business people reported in creased trade, and every vessel from Aus tralia and New Zealand was bringing

miners and other people connected with the industry to add to the general activity of Suva. From one mail vessel 140 people had recently landed at Suva.

Apart from gold mining, Fiji was also attracting increased numbers of tourists from New Zealand, Australia, America and Europe, and it was anticipated that when the Union Company’s new inter-island vessel was placed on the run many Ameri can tourists would go to Suva to await the Island vessel, and the splendid opportunity it offered for a cruise which was almost without equal.

Mr. Cornaga pointed out that not only were the tourist figures for the first half of the present year almost up to the whole of last year’s total, but also that imports and exports showed a considerable increase.

The export of gold was adding considerably to those figures, which would show a fur ther increase as other mines were brought into operation. Apart from that, there was a marked increase in the production of sugar. That had a very marked effect upon the spending capacity of the Ba and Lautoka districts.

Mr. Cornaga also remarked . upon the fact that despite its mixed population, in cluding 96,656 Fijians and 80,991 Indians,.

Fiji appeared to be a law-abiding country.

All races and creeds lived together in har mony, and the colony appeared to be very well governed. For a small and practically undeveloped country it had a certain, future. It was situated as it was on the main Pacific route, and an enterprising: reading policy was opening up the interior to settlers and tourists.