A New Wharf.

Lautoka's Pressing Need.

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Jan. 25.

THOUGH there are unmistakable signs that Lautoka, on the North-west coast of Viti Levu, is becoming a flourish ing centre, there is some discontent among residents because the Government has ne glected for so long to provide a new wharf.

The principal sugar port of the Group, Lautoka is visited by a good deal of ship ping, but so bad is the congestion that vessels frequently have to delay their arrival, owing to lack of wharf accom modation.

Residents point out that a new mining field was recently proclaimed several

miles inland from Lautoka and that the demands of this field will further in crease the shipping traffic at the port.

This year promises to be a bumper one for Lautoka—there is much activity within and outside the town, and build ings are going up apace. The main job is the erection of the new buildings to house the pineapple canning machinery for the Colonial Sugar Refining Co.

Messrs. Bums Philp (South Sea) Co. who recently finished building their new large bulk store, are going ahead rapid ly with a new copra shed and new of fice premises. In addition, there are several independent stores and a garage nearly completed.

Fiji’s sugar allocation for 1937-38, un der the recommendation of the Perman ent Advisory Committee of Colonial Sugar Products, is 135,000 long tons.