Planters Alleged
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Exploitation of Fijian Planters Alleged Fijian "Copra Ventures"
May Be Answer
From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, March 30.
FLAGRANT exploitation of Fijian
copra-growers by traders (mostly Chinese storekeepers) in some of the outer islands of the group, where there are no alternative buyers, is alleged by correspondents who have written to the local press.
In some cases copra is said to have been bought at £2B a ton—nearly £2O under the present official price in Fiji— and one writer states that there have
been cases in recent months where the price has been as low as £lO.
The only remedy suggested is for one or other of the big firms to arrange for a hawker-licensed auxiliary vessel to serve the outer islands, selling goods and buy ing copra.
Incidentally, there has been a chorus of praise for the Government-sponsored and Fijian-organised and controlled Bua Copra Venture, which was started last year to encourage production and to eli minate middleman profits (a very sore point with the Fijians) by dealing direct with the Copra Board. The plan is a complete success in every way—a fact which is responsible for the new Macuata Copra Venture.