New Industry In Fiji
p. 62 · Read in the full issue
Candlenut Oil
WHEN it was discovered that candle nut oil was almost as, Valuable as tung oil in the manufacture of paints, an enterprising Melbourne group estab lished, in 1946-7, a candlenut-crushing factory in Suva.
It is now crushing about 60 tons of nuts per month, and is producing about 22,500 gallons of oil per annum.
Having acquired new plant, the Com pany now could treble its production, but it cannot get the nuts. Candlenuts grow everywhere in Fiji; but the carefree Fijian native will not trouble to gather them, although the Company offers £7 per ton for them. So far, the company’s most regular and dependable supply comes from the adjoining group of Tonga.
Most of the Company’s production is now being used in Suva, in making paints; and a subsidiary company now is making roofing and other paints.