Fiji Planters

Urged to Grow Foodstuffs

THE present 'position of the copra in dustry is a matter of serious import to Fiji, where copra production ranks as the third biggest industry. It was the second biggest, being next to sugar, until recent times, when it was displaced by gold production. The value of Fiji’s copra production has ranged from £500,000 in the good years to as low as £120,000 in the depression. Production in 1938 was worth £270.000 and in 1939 £207,000.

Many correspondents, and the “Fiji Times” editorially, have discussed the problem of what is to be done to hold up the copra industry, under the un favourable conditions imposed by the war.

During August, while there was much interesting discussion, nothing of’ a practicable character was put forward.

The “Fiji Times” points out that the problem is one for which solution can not be quickly or easily found. It is re commended that in the meantime coco nut planters should give all possible at tention to the production within Fiji of many foodstuffs which now are imported, and which could be quite well-grown on the coconut plantations. Fiji has a large and rapidly growing population, whose food requirements in the bulk now re present a large volume of imports.

Commander R. C. Garsia, who was Ad ministrator of Nauru from 1933 to 1938, attended the August meeting of the Pacific Islands Society in Sydney. He is now living at Canberra.