[?]Oughts Of

[?]ok at Fiji!”

New Caledonia Has

[?]Irying Industry

fcOPLE in New Caledonia who believe that the French Colony, with its extensive cattle indus , should have a flourishing ying industry as well, say, re s a Noumea correspondent; >k at Fiji”. is pointed out that “if Fiji can iuce butter not only for inter teonsumption, but also for ex- [ surely New Caledonia can do same”. lis argument is hardly valid, [the immediate post-war years >r was commonly unprocurable nany would-be buyers in Fiji.

Bocal product was reinforced by tantial imports from New ind, but the Dominion imposed act quota allocation because of more urgent claims of butter ay Britain. fs shortage, plus high, prices for [local and imported butter, was reason why the appearance of [ quality Suva-manufactured farine was welcomed by people I races in 1950.

18 commo 1 n knowle dge A man y people in Fiji, tourists and permanents alike, often eat local margarine when they think they are eating butter.

The dairying mdustiy cames on profitably however, with good marke f f° r what it produces—-including ghee for Indian consumption.

But it is a long time since Fiji ha d anything that could be called a solid export trade in butter.- In Fiji pipped away only 14,318 lb, of which 12,880 lb went to New Caledonia, 1,028 lb to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and 410 lb m ship stores. The total value was only £2,701.

PlM’s Noumea correspondent

points out that New Caledonia has never produced much in the way of dairy products, and a Government subsidised cheese factory has closed down. in 1952 New Caledonia imported 474 tons of milk (condensed, pow dered and evaporated). In 1954 the total was 826 tons, in addition of course, to imports of butter and cheese. This cost more than 23,000,000 francs (about £160,000).

New Caledonia is a goood cus tomer for Australian butter and cheese. In 1954 some 79 tons were imported (46 tons also came from France). In 1954 imports of butter totalled 196 tons, representing £84,000.

Suva Tobacco

Factory

The Fiji Tobacco Company's new factory at Walu Bay, Suva, was opened by the Acting Governor of Fiji (Mr.

A. F. R. Stoddart) in September. At present only imported leaf is used for cigarettes, but the company hopes in the future to use locally-grown leaf. —Photo by Stinsons Studio.