Booklet Showing Colony’s Wealth

Fiji’s Annual Report In Attractive Booklet Showing Colony’s Wealth

INSTEAD of the usual drab dreariness of Governmental reports, the Gov ernment of Fiji has, for its Annual Report of 1948, compiled a most attract ive octavo book, illustrated with photo graphs and with a coloured, folding map of the Colony. The cover shows the Fijian head in bronze that is located in the foyer of the Legislative Council Chamber in the Government Buildings in Suva. The bronze is the work of Margaret Vandercook.

As well as a review of the year 1948, there are chapters dealing with popu lation, labour and industry, finance and taxation, currency and banking, com merce and production, social services, legislation, justice, public works, com munications, geography and climate, history, administration, newspapers and periodicals, etc.

At the end of the book there is an adequate bibliography and an appendix setting out a list of all Fiji government publications, maps, etc., that are for sale.

The publication is not only an official report, but is, as well, a well-produced handbook on the Colony of Fiji. The price is 2/6 and it is available at the Government Press, Suva, Fiji.

IN the Review of 1948, it is stated that although there were no spectacular developments during the year, much solid ground-work was accomplished. Due to the curtailment of the 1946 Ten Year Plan, progress in many spheres of

activity was not as marked as had been hoped.

During the year, however, the Gov ernment of the United Kingdom con verted Fiji war debts and interest free advances made during 1943-46 totalling more than £2,200,000, Into a free grant.

In the same year agreement was reached with New Zealand regarding the payment of a_debt of £768,000 owing by Fiji to the Dominion. The debt settle ment was closely linked with arrange ments for the future defence of the Colony.

In 1948, the values of imports and ex ports constituted a record, total trade amounting to £13,734,346 with a favour able trade balance of £1,844,678, or nearly twice that of 1947.

In March, 1948, the price of copra was increased from £4l/19/- to £5O/2/3 (Fijian currency) and a record production of 34,637 tons was achieved in 1948. Exports of copra, as such, dropped in 1948 but this was due to the fact that increased quantities were processed locally and ex ports of coconut oil and coconut meal increased by 37 per cent, and 68 per cent, respectively.

Prospects for a further increase in 1949 were destroyed when in December, 1948, a hurricane swept the Lau Group.

Taveuni and Vanua Levu, devastating plantations.

At the end of 1948, contracts were in preparation with the British Ministry of Food for a stabilised price for Fiji copra for the next nine years. (Continued Next Page)

The price of sugar remained the same as for 1947 (£24/5/- stg. per ton) and exports of raw sugar increased by 33 per cent, to 149,494 tons. There was a slight increase in banana exports (to 135,163 cases).

ALTHOUGH various co-operative societies were in operation prior to 1948 (the successful Fijian Co-op erative Marketing Assn., for example), 1948 constituted a landmark in that it saw the enactment of the Co-operative Societies Ordinance and Regulations.

During the year 25 such societies were registered—24 being Fijian and one Indian.

As there had been a decrease in the number of cattle in the Colony, due to increased consumption of meat during the war, it was necessary in 194? to im pose certain restrictions and controls in order to enable the depleted herds to be built up. Butter-fat production in creased slightly compared with 1947.

South Seas Marine Products, Ltd., a British company registered in Fiji, but with a substantial proportion of Ameri can capital, carried out various marine and fishery surveys from 1946, and in 1948 decided to establish a tuna fishing industry in Fiji (they commenced opera tions early in 1949). Tuna and bonito caught in Fiji waters are to be taken in refrigerated state to a cannery at Pago Pago (American Samoa) as US tariff would preclude the establishment of a factory in Fiji. This enterprise is ex pected to increase substantially Fiji’s dollar-earning capacity.

The Emperor and Loloma Goldmines near Tavua, produced, in 1948, 93,059 oz. of gold and 29,187 oz. of silver valued at £893,439 and £5,819 respectively.

Considerable financial assistance was given the Colony by the UK Colonial De velopment and Welfare Fund under whose assistance a geological survey was undertaken and plans made for the es tablishment of a comprehensive medical centre in Suva which includes the erec tion of a new Central Medical School, a students’ hostel, a nurses’ Training School and home, extension of the ob* stetric wing of the present hospital and a new out-patients’ department.

The Fund also made available five scholarships for students to attend over seas universities and technical institu tions.