Fijians Grow

Bananas

Interesting Trade Development

“fTVHE production of bananas is gradu- X ally passing into the hands of the native Fijians”, said Sir Harry Luke.

Governor of Fiji, when addressing the Council of Fijian Chiefs recently. “In 1932, when the quota system was in troduced, the Fijians produced 64.3 per cent, of the total exports of bananas; in 1937 they produced 95.3 per cent.

“A Committee which was appointed in December last to consider the report on the banana industry has recommended that a native company should be grant ed a licence to purchase bananas for export, and that the long range policy of the Government should be directed to wards placing the disposal of native grown bananas in the hands of Fijians themselves. These recommendations have been adopted by the Government, and the company referred to has al ready commenced to purchase and dis pose of bananas”.

The Governor said that the chief and almost the only market for Fijian ba nanas was New Zealand. There was a small market in Canada (limited by shipping facilities); and. as for Austra lia:— “The Australian Government permits the importation of approximately 40.000 cases of bananas per annum from Fiji, but high selling costs in the Common

wealth have so far made this market

unprofitable”.

How Australia “Stonkered”

Fiji

(Editorial Note)

There is far more to the unfavourable character of the Australian market than “high selling costs”; and it is to be hoped that the new Governor will examine the situation.

Australia sells far more goods to Fiji than she purchases from Fiji; and, some years ago, Australia was reluct antly compelled to admit Fiji bananas.

But, although the bananas were appar ently admitted without penalty, actu ally a cunning combination of politic ians and bureaucrats succeeded in im posing all sorts of underground taxes and charges upon them—income tax, prim age, sales tax, etc. —so that they could not possibly compete with the bananas grown in the Northern coast of N.S.W.

There are many banana-growers in the latter district, and they threatened to unseat their Parliamentary represen tatives if Fiji bananas were admitted.

Australians generally are eager for Paci fic Islands bananas —they prefer this full-bodied, well-flavoured fruit to the poor, flavourless stuff grown in N.S.W.

But the rings and combines have seen to it, for many years past, that there is not a Pacific Islands banana on sale in Sydney.

When the then Governor of Fiji, Sir Murchison Fletcher, saw how the under ground engineers in Australia were de feating the official decision to admit a few Fiji bananas, he took prompt and drastic action. He imposed a special im port tax upon Australian flour —which is one of Australia’s largest exports to Fiji.

The response was so quick as to be funny. The Australian flour-millers be came alarmed, and inquired into the position; and the millers’ ultimatum to the politicians was to the point: “If you want our support, carry out your bar gain with Fiji, and get that flour tax taken off”.

And it was so—p.d.q. There were apologies and explanations; the under ground charges were quickly taken off Fiji bananas; and, for a time, the trade proceeded. The Fijian tax was taken

off Australian flour. The Australian banana-growers howled; but they were told that the organised flourmillers were of more political importance than the organised banana-growers.

But time marches on. The banana growers appear to have enlisted the aid of the fruit ring; and by devious means the intrusive Fijian bananas were ‘“stonkered” (an Australian slang term, which expresses exactly what we want to say). Australia enjoys an evergrow ing share of Fiji’s trade; but there is no room in Australia for even a miser able 40,000 cases per annum of Fiji bananas.

All lovers of fair play in trade (if there is such a thing!) hate to see the underground engineers succeeding in their underground tactics. A Fijian tax on Australian produce, to be non-opera tive so long as Australia buys 40,000 cases of Fiji bananas per annum, would meet the situation.