Fiji's Imports at Record

Peak

IN the first quarter of 1955, Fiji’s external trade totalled £5,880,078 —28.2 pc more than in the first quarter of 1954.

The unfavourable balance totalled £1,888,722, compared with £538,066.

Heavy buying by importers and an overflow from Britain caused by the 1954 shipping strike in the UK pushed the quarter’s imports up to £3,884,000 —the highest peak yet reached in the Colony’s trade history.

The total was £1,321,872 more than in the first quarter of 1954.

Exports at £1,731,177 were down by £28,784.

Trade with the UK increased by 92.6 pc over the total for the first three months of 1954.

The main imports showing sub stantial increases were spirits, t®bacco, machinery, motor vehicles and cement, and there were significant increases in exports of copra and coconut oil.

Larger imports of flour and sharps were responsible for an increase of 19.2 pc in trade with Australia.

Trade with New Zealand declined because there were no exports of raw sugar to the Dominion in the quarter.

Imports (mainly clothing) from Hongkong totalled £134,205, com pared with £44,115 in 1954.

New Church

at Suva

The new Seventh Day Adventist Church at Suva was dedicated on June 12 by Pastor L. C.

Naden, secretary of the Australasian SDA Inter- Union Conference. The large congregation in cluded the Mayor of Suva (Mr. A. D. Leys) and the Mayoress. —Photo by Caines.