Copra Money to be

Fijian Development

Fund At Work

Copra Money to be Put to Good Use

NEARLY four years after the

Fijian Development Fund levy

on copra began to operate, the system is working smoothly as a whole, but any ideas of a sweeping economic “new deal” for the Fijians have had to be diluted.

When the plan became operative in 1951, some of its most earnest supporters saw it as a bold experi ment in social planning embracing features of self-help and self reliance. It involved compulsory levies from earnings, yet it retained the principles inherent in the structure of Fijian society.

The Ordinance established a fund into which are paid compulsory deductions of not more than £FIO a ton from the purchase price of copra produced by indigenous Fijians.

All payments to the fund are credited to the person or body mak ing the payment and bear interest at 2 pc. Withdrawals from the fund can be made only with the consent of the Fijian Development Fund Board and for a purpose approved by the board.

Chief architect of the scheme was Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, who said in 1951 that the object was “to obtain for the Fijian community some last ing benefit out of the high prices being paid for commodities, to bring the marketing of all economically important native produce under one

control, to gain for Fijians a b«

bargaining position in busi

transactions, and to help the vij communities to emerge from state of sole reliance on a sub

ence economy.”

It was intended, he added, the owners of the fund pro themselves with better ho< healthier and brighter surroundl and good and sufficient water

plies before anything else.

In Fiji’s main copra-produ

areas —the Lau, Lomaiviti Yasawa Groups, Vanua E Kadavu and Taveuni —live i than 50,000 of the 140,000 indii

ous Fijians.

The 1953-54 annual report of Development Fund Board states ths July 31, 1953, the amount standing ti credit of depositors was £26 additions during the year 1953-54 hr the total to £420,746, and withdr totalled £23,174. Interest amounte £6,235, and the depositors’ total om 31, 1954, was £403,808.

In the first year of operation the a-ton levy on Fijian copra y: £103,374; in the second £131,408, ai the third £150,960.

The renort states that the av monthly receipts in 1953-54 amount £12,619. This compared favourably the monthly average of £10,951 in previous year, but was still far belor anticipated average of £16,666. Hov in July, 1954, the last month ol board’s year, receipts rose to £17,54!

"The board has ample evidence this money-saving scheme is g: appreciated by a majority of the ] copra-producers,” the report conti "But it has also received information there are many who are willing t their copra to buyers who are; licensees of the board, thus ens them to avoid the £lO-a-ton dedr . . The board decided in April, to appoint a travelling inspector duty it would be to visit all Fijian o producing centres to endeavour to e -that Fijian-produced copra is dispos through the proper channels. It was thereby to reduce the illicit trade in copra”.

In July, 1954, a regulation was under the Fijian Affairs Ordinance: hibiting the sale of coconuts. The had learned that many thousands ot were being bought by itinerant ti and were being converted into without any benefit to the Develoj Fund.

The growth of the organisatio illustrated by the fact that on Juli 1952, depositors’ accounts numbered A year later the number was 9,512 at 1954 the total was 12,120. Withdn .have risen from £6Ol in the first y» f £23,174 in the third.

A large percentage of the sums drawn has been for the building of S'i and the installation of water suj In these cases, where the work had! approved by the heads of the depart! concerned, it was customary fon Government to contribute a moie; the cost. The board had encourages Fijians to withdraw their deposit! these purposes, but during the yeat Government grants ceased.

"The Colonial Secretary was ask? reconsider these Government deo which threatened to affect the h( policy adversely,” the report conti "Subsequently, further Goverr funds were made available fori installation of water supplies, anti question of grants-in-aid for bin schools is under consideration.”