Fiji

Currency Confusion in Fiji

T>USINESS people and housewives in Fiji have been sorely tried for some time by the vagaries of the Government regarding the coinage (says Sydney Morning Herald of October 22).

First, the banks’ notes were withdrawn and the Government supplied all notes needed for general use, including notes pf 5/-, 10/-, £l, £5, £lO, and £2O. The Government next issued a coinage con sisting chiefly of specially made nickel pennies and halfpennies, each having a hole, and low-grade silver sixpennies, shillings, and florins. Then came an edict that Australian and New Zealand silver would not be allowed as legal tender.

This caused consternation and annoy ance, as the Government and the banks had introduced these coins. Thousands of pounds worth of these coins were hoarded by Indians, in preference to banking their savings. Residents were immediately charged 2d in the shilling discount for all Australian and New Zealand silver coins. In spite of protests, this became a general practice.

On September 30 it was announced that British silver coinage would not be ec cepted as legal tender. People were astounded. No British coins are now accepted in any Government office. It was the Government that introduced the British coinage. To-day thousands of pounds of British coins are stored away by Indians and others, for in the natives’ opinion the safest thing in money was a British coin. People watch carefully to see that British coins are not given to them instead of the new Fiji coins. The banks accept British coins at face value.

But the wily Chinese vegetable man is taking no risks, so daily excited argu ments are heard at back doors when housewives offer British coins and the Chinese murmurs, “No can do.”