COMPLAINTS FROM FIJI

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1920, Page 3

COMPLAINTS FROM FIJI

NEW ZEALAND “ UNFRIENDLY.”

SUVA, June 4. ‘ The people of the Islands are feeling very resentful against Australia and New Zealand over the conditions imposed on trade with the colony. They contend that the trade of Fiji belongs properly to Australia and New Zealand, and yet it is being deliberately and ruthlessly cast aside. Last week the Chambers of Commerce of Suva and Levuka unanimously passed motions condemnatory of the “ selfish, cruel, and un-British action ' of Australia and New Zealand, and demanding that the Government take action. Within six months one, if not two, new lines of steamers trading direct between the. United Kingdom and Fiji will

be inaugurated. Another line is being arranged between San Francisco and Fiji. Fiji is securing steamers of her own, and Suva very soon will he the distributing centre for the Western Pacific, and Australia and New Zealand will lose the great bulk of our trade. She must buy in the cheapest market, and the neighbouring islands will be glad to do the same—in Suva, the entrepot of the Pacific.

Some of the complaints against New Zealand are as follows:—<' 1) The export of cement to Fiji lias been prohibited, and many thousands of pounds of work is being held up for lack of it; (2) New Zealand sells lamb to the United Kingdom at sdi per lb, and charges I 1 iji 10d ; (3) she sells butter to her own people at Is od. per lb and to Fiji at Is TOd per lb ; (4) she obtains all her raw sugar from Fiji under" the “most favoured conditions, refines it and supplies her her people with the cheapest sugar in the world and in return refuses to fill Fiji orders for white sugar; (5) receiving the cheapest of sugar from Fiji, she supplies Fiji with dearer jam than Australia docs, with only half the fi eight to pav; (6) she has practically closed her doors to Fiji for the much-needed supplies of kauri. The merchants of Fiji are now asking the Government to take steps, either by prohibiting the export of sugar to New Zealand, or by imposing a very heavy export duty, to retaliate on New Zealand for her “selfish and unfriendly attitude.” They contend that neither Australia nor New Zealand recognises the wealth and coining importance’of Fiji. It is the wealthiest country for its size south of the line, and its business men and institutions hope that the Dominions will reconsider that Fiji, although the Cinderella of the trinity, is a fellow British State, and deserves a happier and more equitable treatment than she is receiving to-day.