Control

Fiji Indians And Birth

LTOUNG Mr. R. B. Nathu, of Suva, ■- Fiji,—he is a staff man in an nport agency—made an interesting smark in Perth, WA, late in April, le had been to India to bring his oung bride back to Fiji, and he was iterviewed by a reporter.

Asked about trends in India, Mr. fathu said that the growing popula on was an ever-increasing problem lere. “The Indian Government is ow most active in encouraging irth-control, and it is becoming quite opular with the masses,” he added.

The gravest social and economic roblems are developing in Fiji be ause of the phenomenal birth-rate f the Indian community there. Al :ady, the Indian population (135,000) 10,000 ahead of the Fijian popula on. Sir Brian Freeston, the late rovernor of Fiji, caused a stir when e said, quite frankly, a couple of ;ars ago, that Indian birth-control ;emed to be the only solution; but ic idea is now receiving considera on in Fiji.

It must receive consideration soon, 3t only in India, but in Asia gener ly. Asia’s masses are now increas g far faster than the available food

supplies. At this moment a famine, caused by drought, is killing about five million people in India.

XI „ . “ , , The New Guinea Director of Forests, Mr. J. McAdam, told an Australian timber conference recently that ’ by su PP lyin g Australian storage battery-makers with 400,000 super feet of P ine «<*». f° r as separators, and for veneer, New Guinea had saved Australia at least 100,000 dollars. Without that pine f ro m Morobe, Australia would have

had to buy lumber from North America.

A total of nearly £.22,000 was collected in Papua-New Guinea for the Mt. Lamington Disaster Relief Fund. Most of this amount has al ready been paid out for the relief of dependents of the victims. Final dis tribution of the remaining funds is now in progress. Mr. Justice R. T.

Gore, who is the President of the Fund’s Committee, expects to make an announcement shortly about the winding up of the Fund.