Fiji Sugar

Britain Sending Expert to Inquire Concerning Dispute

AFTER a year of industrial turmoil, disappointment and mutual exas peration, the parties to the sugar dispute in Fiji appear to have been pro vided, at last, with machinery with wnich they may reconcile their differences, and settle down to peaceful engagement in an industry which, in the past few decades, brought much prosperity to the Colony.

The British Government is immediately sending to Fiji an independent expert, with full powers to obtain all relevant information, and to report as quickly as possible to London. The expert is Dr.

C. Y. Shephard, Carnegie Professor of Economics in the ‘ Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture at Trinidad.

The Imperial Government stated that, although the Fiji Commission appointed by the Fiji Government in 1943 had investigated and reported, it was felt that the situation, as between the Colo nial Sugar Refining Company and the Indian cane-growers (who have been demanding higher prices for their cane) could not be clarified unless the Fiji Government was in possession of more information. Dr. Shephard, therefore, had been supplied with the following terms of reference; (1) To report on existing agreements between the Colonial Sugar Refining Company and cane-farmers. (2) To recommend— (a) whether any, and if so what, modi fications are desirable in the public interest in the arrangements embodied in these agreements; (b) what measures should be adopted to secure that the Government should at all times be in a position fully to dis charge its responsibilities in this regard.

The foregoing announcement was made' in Fiji in March; and the CSR Com pany thereupon, as a gesture of good will and to show its eagerness to settle the dispute fairly and amicably, with drew forthwith the eviction notices which had been served upon certain Indian sugar-growers- (The Indians occupy lands provided by the company, on con ditions which call for a supply of cane to the company’s sugar-mills.) Owing to the industrial disturbances and serious internal quarrels in the Indian community, the sugar industry had a poor record in Fiji in 1943. All interests in Fiji are now urging the Indians, in view of these latest develop ments, to reconcile their differences, and to resume planting activities at once, pending the inquiry by Dr. Shephard.

The command of the First Fiji Bat talion, since Lieut—Col, Taylor was wounded, has passed temporarily to Lieut.-Col. Upton. (His promotion to this rank was gazetted some weeks ago.) Colonel Upton has been up in the front line with his men during some of their most important engagements on Bou gainville, and as a tactician has proved himself superior to any of Tojo’s com manders with whom he has so far had to match wits.

Air-gunner Trevor Stow, RAF, for merly of the CSR staff at Rarawai, Fiji, who trained in South Africa and then was attached to Coastal Command, has been invalided home and discharged in New Zealand'