Protected Industry

Candlenut Oil Now A

mHE Fiji company, Industrial Oils (Fiji) i Ltd., which started in a very small way in 1945 to crush candlenuts for their oil, has become a Protected Industry —which virtually gives it a monopoly of the candlenut oil business in Fiji. They are to purchase candlenuts, process them, refine, sell and export the oil therefrom.

For their part the Company must gunrantee to submit financial statements to the Colonial Secretary twice per year, purchase candlenuts at £7/10/- per ton, purchase all candlenuts that pass a “float test,” refrain from exporting any nuts and “diligently engage in the business of ex tracting oil”.

The success of the candlenut oil busi ness in Fiji is a personal triumph for Mr. H. A. Mitchell, an Australian, who became interested in the oil before the war and after it was oyer went back to start operations in Fiji. Candlenut oil is used in paint and in this respect is equal to linseed oil. The great problem was how to crush it from the very woody candlenut. Mr. Mitchell solved this and other problems of production and put the industry on its feet in Fiji.

It is interesting to note that one of Australia’s biggest paint manufacturers has recently been advertising the fact that it has now commenced to make candle nut oil in Queensland.