Foreigners!

Status of Australian Planters in Solomons

Solomons might be more prosper- A ous if we planters there were not treated as foreigners”, said Mr. C. R.

Bignell, of Fulakora, 8.5.1., when inter viewed by newspaper reporters in Bris bane in February.

“We are ruled from Piii' tVipv Hnn’t know much about the country there, and they don’t seem to care.

“ We have beautiful soil, capable of pro ducing bananas, citrus fruits, and tim ber, and of raising good cattle. But we have no encouragement, such as is given in other island groups, to go in for anv thing but copra. We are not allowed to ship bananas or citrus fruit to Australia.

Restrictions confront the planter at every turn, “Gold miners have the greatest diffi culty in getting land titles from the au thorities in Fiji”.