"Controlled" Living Costs
p. 60 · Read in the full issue
Still Rising In Fiji
From Our Own Correspondent
Suva, Dec. 22.
THE effects of the Fiji Government’s policy of attempting to reduce the cost of living by bumping up cus toms duties are now being seen. But at the same time the price of practically everything continues to rise.
Twenty cigarettes, for instance, now cost 1/11 if one buys a packet of 20, but if one buys two packets of 10. the cost is 2/-. Two-ounce tins of tobacco are 3/8 and 3/9, but tobacco like cigarettes, is classed as a luxury.
Petrol at the moment is 3/- a gallon.
Last week sharps (for the Indians) and flour (for everyone else) went up an other halfpenny, to sd. a pound retail.
The taxpayers (mainly Europeans) will shortly be paying £ll/0/9 in subsidy on every ton of sharps for the Indians and £lO/16/- a ton in subsidy on flour.