they're Changing

A New Industry

[?]he Face Of Fiji

r business may be hesitant in ting money in Fiji but Suva ving another demonstration oj possibilities existing in that ly for the “little man” witti .live and enterprise, in the form prospering wrought-iron busi which has sprung to life since September.

E of the partners—Fiji hern ias also demonstrated his faith n Fiji by transferring a good less in New Zealand back to his dand purely because he was [need that prospects there were jod or better than in New Zea e founders of this business — xght Iron Manufacturers —are lie Williams, originally of Lau and Paul Van der Meer, orig yr of Holland, both aged 31 and married to New Zealanders. . Williams left Fiji in 1948 as aman in a British Phosphate mission vessel which was trad- Detween New Zealand and the phate islands. saw there were opportunities employment in New Zealand, :ar later signed off the ship, ned entry into that country and found work as a welder in land. 1950, he shifted to Christ ch and went into business on iwn account. There, in 1952, he Mr. Van der Meer, who had ed in the country in 1951 and also in the welding business, two decided to join forces in ucing wrought-iron furniture, h was then in the full flush of larity. len the two decided last August y their luck in Fiji, competition becoming much keener in New md. Within a month of decid to transfer they were in Suva all their tools and equipment

and had set up shop at Walu Bay, next door to another pioneer busi ness—a metal-plating firm started by an Australian last year.

It Was New Wrought-iron furniture was com paratively new to Fiji, though some items had been imported from over seas, so the first task was to show the public, including the local archi tects, just what could be done in this field. For six weeks Wrought Iron Manufacturers all two of them —turned out over 50 sample items—chairs, tables, ornamental stands, balustrading, etc., and arranged a display in a city store.

This brought many inquirers bear ing pages from overseas magazines illustrating a variety of types of at tractive wrought-iron work. Could these be made? They could, and were.

The firm received a substantial order from Lady Ragg for furnishings for the chain of Northern Hotels in Viti Levu. The business had been started at an ideal time, too, with some other big hotel building projects under way or mooted. The new wing to the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva contains many items of the new firm’s craftsman ship, as does the Club Hotel, which has lately been undergoing ex tensions.

The Man Friday cabaret and coffee lounge opened in April, and the new Chungking Restaurant opening in June are other valuable clients. And now that Fiji archi tects have seen the workmanship and know that this type of furnish ing is available locally, they are incorporating fancy grilles and balustrades in Fiji’s private and public buildings.

Plenty of Variety

Most of the wrought-iron work is finished in black or white, but tubular steel furniture is also being manufactured, the chromium plat ing being done by the firm next door. Car roof carrier s—rear carriers are forbidden by Fiji law playground equipment, and rotarj clothes-lines are other items pro duced.

When the firm first started up in Fiji there was a feeling that wrought iron craftsmanship would not be satisfactory in this damp tropica] climate, but the partners knew in advance, and time has confirmed that after the ironwork has beer passed through the process em ployed it will not rust.

The firm is now employing out siders and has reached the stage where it is ready for considerable expansion. The outlook seems bright,

Wrought iron may be changing the face of Fiji (see below) but so is the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva's famous landmark. Here, viewed from Albert Park are the new extensions—the big new wing on the left of the old building and the new bar and beer garden on the right. Guests will occupy the new wing in June. The furnishings include some samples from Suva's new wrought iron industry. These are pictured below, together with their manufacturers, Paul van der Meer and Charlie Williams.