Fiji Cane

Dissatisfied Indian Growers And The Governor

A DEPUTATION of Indian cane growers from Lautoka, Fiji, were received by the Governor, Sir Philip Mitchell, in July.

The growers maintain that sugar-cane is not worth growing, at the present price, and ask that the price be increased. They intimated that they probably would not cut their cane, under existing conditions.

Sir Philip said that, as a result of the recent strike, he had already decided that an inquiry was necessary; but, neverthe less, he had to tell the deputation what he could do and what he could not do.

One of the things he could not do was to promise them an increase in the price of cane; the price of cane depended upon the price of sugar, and sugar was bought by the Food Ministry in London. All that could be done was to present the growers’ case to the Ministry, if the growers could make out a case.

He suggested that a Commission should be appointed to inquire into matters at once. Mr. H. H. Ragg and Mr. Apabhai Patel, who had each given valuable ser vice on the Labour Committee, had agreed to act on the cane inquiry. It was hoped that the Attorney-General of the Colony would be able to preside. The two cane growers’ Associations had agreed to jointly nominate a representative.

As to whether they should cut their cane or not: His Excellency said that that was strictly their own affair. For that matter, they could, if they wished, shoot their own working animals, and burn their own houses. But it seemed to him exceedingly foolish to go to the labour of growing cane and then not to cut it; whatever it fetched, it would be better than nothing.

He strongly advised them to cut the cane, while the official inquiry was go ing on. In the meantime, he would ap point a Commission and would have its conclusions sent to London. He admitted that it seemed to him probable that there was a case for a better return to the growers; and, if this proved to be so, then he would support their case.