PROSPEROUS FIJI

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1928, Page 3

PROSPEROUS FIJI

CiUOAVTH OK PRIMARY INDUStui bs. AUCKLAND',. April 10. “I think one may regard tile prospects of Fiji as very bright,” said Sir Eyre Hutson, Governor of the Island Crown Colony and High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, who arrived by the Aorangi yesterday after a holiday hi Australia. ‘ There is very intimate and friendly connexion between Fiji and New Zealand.” he said. “Most of our dairy stock tomes from the Dominion ; a number of New Zealand farmers are holders of Fijian land; our school teachers are all drawn from New Zealand; and ■ the same country is still the principal market for our fruit. We arc going ahead very satisfactorily and wo arc now developing markets in other lands. The growth of mir dairy enterprise is one of the principal causes for this expansion.” Sir Eyre referred to the financial stability of Fiji which, he said, was clearly proved by the recent loan of £750,000 issued in London, being oversubscribed at 5 per cent. An important programme of public works had recently been adopted, including the erection of a now Government House at Suva at a cost: of £25,000. The reception of the loan was very f encouraging to those who believed in the fill ure of Fiji.

The Governor spoke well of the Indian population, now numbering over 00.000. nearly all of whom were employed as agricultural labourers. "I hey worked well, and ho would like to see the number doubled. Farming was in a prosperous condition and there was still good land available on reasonable leasing terms. On the flat land the paspalum grass industry was going ahead in encouraging fashion. The importations of dairy produce from Mow Zealand were being restricted and Fiji, through its two proprietary dairy companies, had already become an exporter of butter to Great Britain. Fruit was being exported principaly to Now Zealand, high protective duties being a handicap to the development of trade with Australia.

Sir Fyro Hutson lias boon High Commissioner of the Western '.Pacific and Governor ol I' iji for three years. The area over which lie exercises jurisdiction on behalf ol the Crown includes the Solomon Islands, the Gilbert. and FJlice groups. the New Hebrides, and Tonga, and a wide ocean domain.