ISLAND FRUIT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 161, 2 April 1919, Page 9

ISLAND FRUIT TRADE

IMPEBILLED Bi r QUARANTINE iIESTKICTIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Apiil 1. "Conditions in Fiji are at present in anything but a promising stale," remarked a prominent Island fruit trader to-day, who, has just returned to Auckland. "Owing to the heavy losses suffered by skippers there lately it is doubtful whether any but the wealthiest iirms will be able to continue shipping iruit. During last winter several ut the oldest shippers have hud to give it best. The trouble in the first instance is due to the unsettled state of the country owing to the epidemic, and the conseaueut dearth of labour, which is a very serious problem now. Some years ago natives were paid from 2s. to 4s. per day. ' To-day some of the natives receive as high as lis. per day, with their food. The fact is, that Fiji is in a very precarious position owing to the Indian Government blocking tho importation of indentured labour. It is now estimated that within two years all available indentured labour will have run out, and what.is going to happen Hum as far as the planters of fruit are concerned no one knows. They have only the New Zealand market to rely Pi! a,t present, and the last three shipments landed here were a serious" loss-. The Australian market is practically closed, owing to thu epidemic necessitating four days' quarantine 'for each steamfcr before discharging cargo. This amounts to Hie prohibition of shipping perishable fruit. One dny in quarantine enforced upon an Island boat here has really been the cause of heavy losses with bananas, and the restriction, in my opinion, is altogether unnecessary, as Fiji lias been declarod n clean port, and (lift Island is probably quite tree of li'.ihionza." t The trader in question is Mr. Frnser, and he is leaving this week for Wellington to place before the authorities an urgent suggest inn I hut quarantine restrictions should not apply at, least to I he- Island boat, otherwise it was doubtful whether the shippers of Fiji would lake the risk of sending further supplies of fruit in the circumstances.