Fertiliser Industry in Fiji
p. 35 · Read in the full issue
ANEW industry in Fiji that promised well may be hard hit by the war in the Pacific—namely, the export of fertiliser to New Zealand. Fijian Fer tilisers Ltd., under the management of Mr. H. S. Lockhart, sent its first ship ment of 145 tons to Auckland just before Japan entered the war. The difficulty in future will be to get supplies to NZ.
The fertiliser (believed to be guani ferous) is dug from the Wailetu caves, in Wainibuka Valley, on the main island of Viti Levu. It is collected in trucks, running on tramlines through the caves, and taken to a drying-shed, where later it is bagged. When dry, the fertiliser resembles coarse black sand.
NZ can take the whole proposed out put of 300 tons per month. Reports say there are over 14,000 tons in sight.
Captain C. Ashley, Government gaoler at Port Moresby, Papua, is now serving with the Royal Australian Navy.