Fiji’S Sugar Troubles
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
FIJI sugar mills are expected to pro duce only about 100,000 tons of sugar this season —26,000 tons less than last season and much below the maximum exportable limit (170,000 tons) agreed upon at the Commonwealth Sugar Confer ence held in London about a year ago.
Fiji’s best sugar year was 1948 when 149,494 tons were exported.
Although this year’s production is some what below average, much smaller outputs were recorded in 1940, 1941, 1943, 1944 and 1945 (a record low of 30,305 tons). Most of these bad years however, were the result of the Indian cane field troubles when growers refused to plant cane. This year’s below-average output is blamed on the unfavourable weather during the growing period—and this same factor has delayed planting of cane for the 1951 harvest.
May Not Sign Contract.
AT a public meeting convened by the Kisan Sangh (farmers’ union) at Nadi Market on November 11, Mr.
M. S. Chalmers, who virtually runs the anion, spoke of the welfare of the 9,000 in Fiji and urged members )f the Kisan Sangh not to sign the CSR Company’s new contract until his re turn from the sugar-producing countries )f Trinidad, the Philippines and Cuba. \ branch of the Kisan Sangh has also ieen formed at Labasa.
That was on November 11, before the icute stage developed in the international situation. The perambulating Mr.
Uhalmers may have had a change of heart since then. Or, perhaps, looking into his crystal ball and interpreting the future le may be making long-term arrange ments to sell his sugar to General Wu’s or Joe Stalin’s Russia.
The world seems to have sufficient troubles apart from these that Mr. Chal mers imagines his cane-field Indians possess. In the event of another world war and a resurgence of the ridiculous strikes, the Fiji Government should be prepared to deport all Indian trouble-makers to Mother India without mss of time.