Beefless Days For Fiji

Suva, Nov. 21.

SUVA butchers are now observing two beef less days.

The shortage is the result of the war years when considerable inroads upon the colony’s cattle were made by troops stationed in Fiji. Recovery of beef pro duction has been hampered by the spread of noxious weeds and the inadequate supplies of fencing material and other farm equipment.

Butter is also scarce in spite of impor tation from New Zealand. Before the war Fiji was largely self-supporting in butter.

Scotch whisky which remained com paratively plentiful in the Colony when tile rest of the world went short, is also in short supply.

Instead of buying cement in Australia or New Zealand, New Caledonia is now obliged to order supplies in France. There is an extreme shortage in the Colony at the present time, and Paris has been cabled to send 4,000 tons as soon as pos sible.

Mr. F. L. Jones, the well-known Vanikoro trader, Southern Solomons, re turned home in October, by Trans-Ocean flying boat, after three months holiday in Australia.

Mr. Max Babbage, who has spent about six months in NSW receiving medical treatment, returned this month to his plantation at Karoola. in Buka, New Guinea. He shipped, by “Malaita,” a neat little launch for his use in the islands.

The Nickel Company collier “Cagou,” sunk by enemy action between Sydney and Noumea on July 28, 1942, has been cited in an Order of the Day by Vice-

Admiral Monmer, Chief of the French Naval Staff. The croix de guerre with silver star has been posthumously awarded to members of the crew.