Fiji Re-Planning the Rewa

THERE is no better country in Fiji than the vast flats and terraces of the Rewa Valley and

Delta: and the decision of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. to close the Nausori sugar mill means that Fiji must face up squarely to the problem of how best to utilise Fiji’s good land.

For various reasons —m os 11 y climatic —the Rewa is not suitable for sugar culture. But it will grow a wide vairety of other profitable foodstuffs. There is a large popula tion there, which must find a new means of subsistence.

Furthermore, Nausori is so close to Suva that it is virtually a suburb.

Suva’s economy will be rather heavily disturbed if, at the end of

the three years’ notice given by thfl?

CSR Co. in January, the Rewrw country dwellers have not organiseec new sources of income, to take thl: place of cane-sugar.

Some of the land is leased frono Fijians by the Indians; some worked by the Fijians; a considers able area is owned by the CSR CtO Ownership of the land, naturally!! will bulk large in all consideration*; affecting its future use.

There is a problem of drainagig The Rewa floods whenever there £ much rain in the interior; am; much of the good land is either, submerged or becomes swamp;q That is one of the reasons wLlv cane-growing is “out.”

There is much public interest ii the future of the Rewa; and tiff Government is looked to for a leaus; Here is a chance to show how ■ new agricultural economy could If evolved.

Sir Hugh Ragg, who knows hd Fiji as well as any man, has su§u gested the formation of a Rew<: River Authority, to take charge » the re-allocation of land, give direo tions regarding suitability and prn< duction of crops, drainage, roadimi and so on.

This could be a chance to teeJ out the argument that rearrange ment of native Fijian social ans economic affairs could be effects more quickly and efficiently Fijians were brought together much larger communities, whesr they might be more easily educate? and trained in farming aits technical handicrafts.

It is certain that the Governmene in any attempt to re-arrange sulu; sistence living in the Rewa countnj will have the support and actfi: co-operation of the powerful CSC Company. That was promised Mr. Carver, when plans wev under discussion in Suva late ; January.