[?]omforting Development

[?]igures For [?]iji's New Governor

Of all the documents which vaited the arrival of Fiji's new overnor (Sir Derek Jakeway), in nuary, none could have had greater terest and significance than a mmary of Fiji’s developmental tivities prepared at the end of ecember by the Colony’s Develop ed Commissioner, Mr. Basil ogers. 3HE past year has been one of • some administrative and political •sets in Fiji; but Mr. Rogers, arriv g in mid-year from Africa, marched aight into the job. The Govern ent generally appears to have given m plenty of co-operation, and the itistics speak for themselves.

Land development is vital to Fiji’s ogress. As at the end of 1963 i less than 785 farms had been bdivided, and farmers had started >rk on most of them—36o in the arthern Division, 324 in the estern and 101 in Central.

Encouraged by the coconut sub ly, landowners have thinned and sared some 12,000 acres; new mtings are in hand over 5,500 res; and there is replanting pro dding on 1,500 acres.

There are plans for the establishm ent of the cocoa industry and a leme for a cocoa subsidy is before e Colonial Office.

Because land development is bject to both capital and enterprise ing available, there is an interesting mcussion going on between the denial Office and the International ink of Reconstruction and ivelopment. A bank man may soon to Fiji to investigate.

Wide Interests Private enterprise by December is showing wide interest in Fiji— ie new hotels were being planned constructed; a plan for a beef nnery was under consideration— t it involved some sort of promise at there would be beef to can; achinery has been ordered for a mall pineapple cannery; new fruit Iping machinery already installed Sigatoka was handling a passion ait crop; Japanese interests are oposing to develop a copper mine Udu Point; plans for two plywood neer factories were under close nsideration; the Carpenter interests ;re inclined to accept Lord Silsoe’s commendation and resume the

lanufacture of margarine; a rope ictory to handle Fiji’s hemp pro action was under consideration; and he spectacular results of planting inus Carribea in Macuata” had lade a CDC paper pulp mill a Dssibility—which in turn would of mrse involve a heavy planting rogramme.

In addition, there still are distinct Dssibilities of developing a Japanese shing industry, and an extended /erseas market for bananas.