Controls Yet

No Relaxing of War Controls Yet Victory in Europe Will Affect Fiji Little

JI, in common with most other countries that have done some con siderable groaning under the war time load, is anxious that as many regulations as possible will be relaxed soon. However, the Fiji Government announced on the day following VE-Day, that the main structure of wartime con trol measures must be continued for the present. It is the Government’s intention to relax regulations as soon as circum stances permit—but that might be some time yet.

Residents of the Colony were reminded that it is necessary to maintain produc

tion at the hi B hest Possible level—both f or home consumption and for export.

Agricultural products were never in greater demand than to-day, and a 100 per cent, effort is needed from the Colony in this regard.

Indications are that shipping is as short as ever, and that overseas supplies are hkely to become less instead of more during the next 12 months. This general shortage of shipping and the heavy de mands made on air transport by military anc j official personnel will make it im possible to relax restrictions on travel by private persons, Residents were told that although it might be possible in the near future to begin work on the Colony’s post-war re construction programme, and also on new or deferred public works, even this would be hampered by shortages of both materials and manpower.