Fiji's Sound Trade Position

Turnover Increased By Half Million

From Our Own Correspondent.

Suva, Feb. 16.

AN extremely sound position is dis closed by the trade figures of Fiji for 1936, recently published in the Royal Gazette. The trade of the Colony for 1936 exceeded that of 1935 by £559.598.

Increases were accounted for princi pally by rises in the exports of copra, bananas, sugar, and molasses. An in crease of £77,675 in the value of gold ex

ported helped materially to improve the

trade position. Incidentally, the rise in gold production serves to show the steady progress that has been made by ihe main operating concern on the Tavua goldfield —namely, Emperor Goldmining Co. Ltd.

The principal trade figures were as follows: —

Exports

Exports for 1936 (with 1935 figures shown in parentheses), were:— Sugar: 140,864 tons (135,638 tons) : £1,331,701 (£1,314.128).

Copra: 34.582 tons (27.296 tons) ; £406,393 (£230,263). . .

Bananas: 19,849 bunches (16,137 bunches) : 150,147 cases (143,495 cases) ; £84,548 (£66,863).

Molasses: 22,576 tops (16,545 tons) ; £22.576 <£ fiold: (6,9230 z.) ; £131,684 (£54,009).

Trochus shell: 185 tons (298 tons); £14.305 (£20,226).

Total Trade

1935 1936 £ £ Imports 1,257,287 1,501,854 Exports 1,820,396 2,135,427 3,077.683 3,637.281

Imports

1935 1936 £ £ Value 1,257,287 1,501.854 Duty 357.215 418,757 Wharfage 10.317 12,684 Tonnage duty 2,963 3,207