Acute Shortage Of

Rice

Problems In The Solomons

Honiara, May 4.

NO unusual food shortage has existed in the 8.5.1. P. for Euro peans (as reported in Australia), though the arrival early in May of the R. C. S. Kurimarau, the Muliama and the Awahou provided a welcome variety of diet, including some potatoes and onions.

The rice situation, however, was described by a Government spokes man as “critical”. Owing to an un expected drop of 20,000 tons in Australian rice production this year, no quota of rice for the current year has been granted to the Protectorate by the Australian Government, which has stated that, while sympathetic consideration will be given to the Protectorate’s plight, nothing can at present be promised.

The Protectorate Government has almost finalised negotiations for the purchase of 500 tons of rice from Indo-China as an emergency measure.

Until the amount of rice obtain able from Australia is known, licences to import Australian rice into 8.5.1. have been issued only to the Government Trade Scheme, the Fairymead Sugar Co. and Lever’s Pacific Plantations, a small quantity being set apart for the Chinese settle ment.

Private employers of labour at present are unable to obtain import permits for rice to feed their labour, as permits cannot be graded until the amount available from Australia is known. Their only alternative to obtaining what the Trade Scheme, Fairymead or Lever's can spare them is to make their own arrangements for the importation of rice from countries other than Australia.

The rice shortage will not affect Protectorate natives in general* as they live on the produce of their own gardens, to a large extent. As well as providing an additional hardship to private producers, it could, how ever, seriously affect the economy of the entire Protectorate, since copra cannot be produced if rations for labour are not available.

Mr. L. R. Martin of Suva who was manager of the Fijian Rugby Union team that toured New Zealand in 1951 and Mr. P. Raddock who was coach, will be manager and coach of the team that will tour Australia in July.