Indian Unrest

In Fiji

Usurers Who Demand 40%

THE following matters, of direct inter est to Fiji, were dealt with at the annual meeting of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co., by the chairman (Mr. E. R. Knox), in Sydney, on May 29: “Over the last two years there has been an undercurrent of unrest amongst the Indian cane-growers and labour in Fiji.

This has been more political than eco nomic, and we are convinced that the origin is outside the Colony.

“Nevertheless, there is an evil in Fiji that should be checked, namely, the usurer who seeks to keep his borrowing victims in his clutches, and preys upon them with gruelling rates of interest, sometimes as high as 40%. the existence of this inquitous business is the cause of much unhappiness and hardship, and we are investigating ways and means of combating it so far as our own people are concerned.

Pineapple Industry

“As regards our newly-established pineapple industry in Fiji, the additions to the Cannery forecast last year were installed in time, and were in use for the summer pack completed last Febru ary. Marketing is progressing satisfac torily despite limitations imposed upon imports in some of our markets. Con siderable areas were planted in 1939, ex ceeding those planted in previous years, and additional farmers have commenced pineapple growing. There are now pros pects of rapid development.”