Fiji Agricultural Journal

Good Publication Should Have a Wider Field

THE journal published by the Depart ment of Agriculture in'Fiji is prob ably the best thing of its kind in the world.

We know of no other publication in English, devoted to the interests of tropical agriculture, which even ap proaches its standard.

For that reason we venture to express the hope that the journal will be brought seriously under the notice of the South Pacific Commission, with a suggestion that its scope and usefulness may be consider ably extended.

This comment is induced by an article by Dr. K. B. Cumberland in the last issue of the journal entitled “The Similarity of Agricultural Problems in the South-west Pacific.” He points out that in the Terri tories of Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, the problems of agriculture are governed by similar circumstances, and conditions that demand the same kind of approach. It probably will be found that the same remark applies to many problems within the Territories further west—New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons and New Guinea, The Fiji Agricultural Journal, for years, has been noted for the thoroughness of its handling of these various problems of agriculture, and the conscientious and helpful way in which each has been ex plored. With some assistance and en couragement in relation to organisation, finance, and expert advice, this journal could be made an instrument of real value to planters throughout the whole of the South Pacific.

Captain Georges Dubois and Lieut. Rene Petre, who served overseas with the Free French Forces, have been made Chevaliers of the Legion of Honour. Both were among the keenest supporters of Governor Henri Sautot when he rallied the Colony to continue in the war in 1940—M. Dubois, indeed, being M. Sautot’s right-hand man and for a time local commander in Noumea, when the Vichy officers left for Indo-China.