History of Fiji-Austrolian
pp. 9-10 · Read in the full issue
"Spurlos Versenkt!"
History of Fiji-Austrolian Banana Trade
IN Australia, when you buy a banana, you usually are given a thing enclosed in a thick, green pod, pulpy and flavour less, and cruelly indigestible—the hor rible product of northern New South Wales. Australians would much prefer the luscious, well-flavoured Islands banana (they will pay 3d. each for them, in Sydney), but a combination of poli ticians and their banana-growing con stituents contrive to keep Islands bananas out of Australia.
It will be remembered that, a few years ago, Fiji told Australia that, if Australia would not take Fiji bananas, Fiji would shut out Australian flour, Aus tralia quickly capitulated, and agreed to buy up to 40,000 centals of Fiji bananas each year.
But that did not establish the trade.
The “underground engineers” were soon at work, and they murdered the Fiji banana trade.
The story is told in the following ques tions and answers in the Federal Par liament on November 17;— Mr. Francis: What has been the im portation of bananas from Fiji each year since the signing of the Ottawa Agree ment?
Minister for Trade; Imports into Aus tralia of bananas from Fiji-
(Continued on next page.)
Year.
Centals.
Year.
Centals. 1933 . . 16,073 1937 1938 1,978 4 1934 . 9,628 1939 (10 months Nil. 1935 . . 6,403 only) 1936 . . 2,365 Total .. .. 36,451
Mr. Francis; What would have been the total amount of duty paid if the full importation of 40,000 centals had been made each year?
The Minister: Approximately, £37,690.
Mr. Francis: What was the total amount of duty paid each year on bananas imported from Fiji under the Ottawa Agreement?
The Minister: Total amount of duty paid on bananas imported into Australia from Fiji—
Or, to use a German phrase notorious in 1914-18, “Spurlos Versenkt” (sunk without leaving a trace).
There is a profitable market in Aus tralia for 40,000 centals per annum of Fiji bananas, yet nothing is being done about it. Surely there are people in Fiji competent to deal with the selfish, mono polistic Australian interests which try to keep Islands fruit away from the people who want it.
Year. £ Year. £ 1933 .. 2.961 1937 247 1938 1 1934 .. 1,452 1939 (10 months; Nil. 1935 .. 799 — 1936 .. • 296 Total .. . . .. 5,756