Higher Price For Fiji

Bananas In Nz

From Our Own Correspondent, SUVA, March 27, SHARP criticism followed the announce ment that, as a result of New Zea land’s decision to pay 14/6 (NZ) a case for bananas from Fiji (which means a rise of about 1/3 h a case in Fiji cur rency) the Fiji Banana Board had decided to pass on 6d. a case to the Fijian growers and 9Jd. to the shippers.

The Board’s decision means that at this date, the prices paid to the growers by the licensed buyers will be 7/- a case in Viti Levu and Beqa and 6/6 elsewhere.

As the New Zealand increase has been granted conditionally on the recent im provement in the quality and case-weights of Fijian bananas being maintained, critics have attacked the Board for not making a considerably larger “incentive payment” to the growers.

The Board (composed of the Director of Agriculture, two representatives of the growers, two representatives of the ship pers and two other Government members, plus the Produce Inspector, as secretary) has emphasised that the division of the increase will be reviewed at the end of six months, and has pointed out that the increased costs of transport, cases and materials have been felt more by the shippers than by the growers. The growers, it is added, now receive 44 per cent, of the f.o.b. price and the shippers 56 per cent.

“The board is anxious to give every en couragement to the Fijian growers, and the composition of the board ensures that the rights of the growers are fully pro tected,” says the latest statement.