Fiji Sugar Surplus;

Csr Doesn't Want As Much Cane

Growers Worried

An announcement by the Colonial Sugar Refining Co pany in Suva in late October that possibly 200,000 tons? standing cane would not be bought from farmers in 1960, cause of a sugar surplus, brought a reaction from growers?

MR. VIJAY R. SINGH, president of the Labasa Kisan Sangh, and Indian MLC for the Eastern Division of Fiji, said cane farmers were left with a feeling of insecurity.

Mr. Singh said it was realised that Fiji could not continue to produce more sugar than it could export each year, and some form of re striction might be a necessity.

However, for as long as one could remember, it has been the practice in the sugar industry for the grower to obtain the company’s approval for the acreage to be planted each year for harvest in the following year.

"As Good As Sold"

By virtue of that custom, that cane and the first ratoons springing from it, were as good as sold to the company, as far as the grower was concerned.

Whatever cane was offering for 1960 was thus there with the approval of the company.

The company would suffer n if this cane was left unhan yet the cane farmer already had to pay for ploughing, seeo planting, manure and general!, vation.

He would have to bear a I a result of a situation beyoic control. It was always in the pany’s hands to estimate yii keep production in line with o Mr. Singh added that the ; situation arising from the de ment should be reviewed 1 parties, as the situation coulo serious effects on the future industry.

The company announcemen that Fiji surplus sugar thki would amount to 112,000 tons, that although, if the present mate holds, something like tons of cane will not be pun in 1959-1960, the quantity 1 at each mill would be more in any previous year exceplc For more details of the CSR am ment, see Pacific Report, page 133..