Security

Eight Years of Security For Fiji Colony

THE economic position of Fiji is good.

Said the Governor, Sir Brian Pree ston, at the opening of the new Legislative Council on October 3: “Fiji is now in a position of comparative economic security such as has never, within my knowledge, been attained by any Colony in the past.

“Thanks to the Copra and Sugar Agree ments negotiated about a year ago with the British Ministry of Food, for the next 8 years the Colony is amply insured and protected, in respect of its two main exports, against those two associated nightmares of the tropical producer—the inability to find markets for his produce and the consequent slump in the price received.

“Prom now until 1958 we can rejoice in the assurance that there will be a guaran teed market for all the copra and nearly all the sugar that the Colony can produce, at prices which, even in the least favour able state of the world market, cannot fall below certain defined levels, and in other circumstances may rise even above the prices prevailing to-day. Here at last we have what the producer has hitherto longed for in vain; an assurance that he will not be ruined by collapse in the world price which he cannot even predict, let alone control.

“Our third principal export, gold, being equally secure, it follows that the external economy of Fiji is promised, for the next 8 years at any rate, a comfortable seat on a three-legged stool, relieved from the disquieting fear that one of the legs will break.”