Vigorous Opposition
p. 15 · Read in the full issue
New Fiji Copra
Bill
Vigorous Opposition From Some Planters
SUVA, July 19.
EARLIER this month it was announced that a new copra Bill will be intro duced at the next session of the Fiji Legislative Council. It will provide for the establishment of a Copra Board and for the purchase, export and sale of copra by the Board, and for the control of the export of copra and of copra products.
To Mr. W. G. Johnson, managing director of W. R, Carpenter & Co. (Fiji) Ltd., who was principal campaigner against the now defunct first Copra Bill, this had the same effect as a trumpet on a warhorse. On July 15, Mr. Johnson vigorously gave voice at the Suva Cham ber of Commerce.
Mr. Johnson made it clear that he has no quarrel with the idea of a Copra Board, which is to consist of a chairman, the Secretary for Fijian Affairs, and not fewer than six members, of whom four are to be Government-nominated copra producers.
This. Mr. Johnson maintains, means that, by the use of the chairman’s cast ing vote, the Government could easily dominate the Board. At the next meet ing of the Chamber of Commerce he will introduce a motion asking for a modifi cation of the control proposed by the Government.
On July 13, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. D.
Sandiford (Qacivula Estate, Taveuni) and the recorded comments oi various well known planters, were on the air at ZJV Suva to announce the proposed forma tion of a copra producers’ incorporated association. Mr. Johnson hopes to have this in operation within three months.