Record Fijian
pp. 9-10 · Read in the full issue
Production
Exports in 1947 Worth £6,142,000
C COINCIDENT with the publication or j the report of the Suva Chamber of Commerce for the calendar year 1947, came the Fiji Government’s an nouncement that, to take care of the higher cost of living, all Governmental service salaries had been raised 10 per cent. That will add some £60,000 to salaries, and bring the total to around £BOO,OOO per annum.
Fiji commercial interests took the an nouncement badly. An increase in public service salaries means pressure on all other employers to raise salaries and wages. Yet the prime factor in rais ing the cost of living in Fiji is taxation; and the present rates of taxation, accord ing to the new C of C report, shows an estimated Government surplus for the year of £370,000, making an accumulated surplus (since 1942) of £1,500,000. There seems to be a case for a reduction of taxation, rather than an increase in salaries.
Income tax receipts in 1946 were £447,080; estimated total for 1947, £630,000. Customs receipts were £1,013,574 in 1946; and £1,486,527 in 1947.
The trade of the Colony is remarkably good. Here are the export and import totals, year by year, since 1942. It will be noted that the surplus of visible ex ports over imports was resumed as soon as the war was over, and that 1947 pro duction was an all-time high.
The Colony’s three chief industries are sugar-growing, gold production and coco nut growing. This is how the exports of each have gone in recent years, with the total of the last peace-year thrown in as a comparison:—
The following interesting angles of Fiji trade are disclosed by the Chamber’s report.
The milling of copra in Suva was responsible for the consumption of 11,356 tons of copra, from which about 8,000 tons of oil were shipped to Europe, while 2,657 tons of coconut meal (stock food) were sent to New Zealand.
Of canned pineapples, 511,448 pounds, worth £15,896, were exported—compared with 874,241 pounds, worth only £17,070, in 1942. This industry was suspended in 1943-44.
Imports.
Exports. 1942 2,235,270 3,107,848 1943 2,714,339 2.413,9*74 1944 2,586,190 2.008.304 1945 2.621.403 2.174.237 1946 3,571,050 3,604,172 1947 5,116,386 6,142,802
Sugar Tons Value 1938 134,415 £ 1,338,183 1946 106,473 2,111,557 1947 112,433 2,840,307 1938 Gold Ounces 89,345 701,272 1946 68.859 657,527 1947 134,992 1,288,780 1938 Copra Tons 33,475* 270,915 1946 16,302 379,760 1947 25.406 966,246 in 20 years. 1938 Bananas Bunches 314,925 73,578 1946 173,868 49,988 1947 324,660 79,720
Dairy production is showing signs of revival, owing to the activity of farmers in the Tailevu district, who are now ap proaching their problems (selection of stock and rehabilitation of pastures) in a more scientific way.
Rubber weighing 237,674 pounds, worth £24,486 was produced in 1945.
But when the war ended, rubber prices slumped: and in 1947 production was under 70,000 lb.
Exports included 144 tons of green ginger, 551 tons of peanuts, 37 tons of candlenuts, 12,411 hides and 11,455 gallons of lemon juice.