DAIRYING IN FIJI.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4589, 23 July 1923, Page 1

DAIRYING IN FIJI.

(To the Editor.! Sir,—An article, ‘'Dairying in Fiji,” by “Septimus,” which appeared in your columns recently, is so inaccurate that I hope you will allow me space for a short reply. Naturally your readers will feel that we who live here are likely to be somewhat biassed in our opinions of the country and its possibilities, and I will, therefore, base my reply pn the report of Mr G. M. Valentine, the New Zealand Government dairy inspector, who last year visited Fiji to repprt on the Tailevu Dairy Scheme. Under date December 7 last he writes :— “From my observations on various, parts of this island I am quite con ■ vinced there are large areas of good land on which dairying can be successfully carried on. With the objecu of getting some indication of the yield per cow, I have tested every herd supplying the Tailevu factory, and found the average fat content of the milk samples tested was 3.79 per cent —practically the same as New Zealand at the same time of lactation. A number of cows were still producing well, after having been ten or twelve months in milk. Some nf the cows tested were eight years old and over, and were still yielding a payable quantity of fat a year. I believe the whole of the cows tested were Fiji bred, and some of ‘.he younger ones must have had/several generations of Fiji ancestry ; but no falling off in the yield of butter-fat is noticeable, except what can ne accounted for by neglect of any system of breeding up for dairying purposes. The butter already made at Tailevu is equal in quality to butt,er made in similar conditions in New Zealand. With the increasing quantity a more frequent delivery oi cream will soon be necessary, and this, with the steady improvement of the. pastures, should make it possible to turn out butter of a very high quality.” ; Mr Valentine, having visited the country and inquired carefully into the possibilities of dairying here, is, I think ybur readers will admit, well qualified to express an opinion on the subject. I doubt if as much can be said for “Septimus.” Mr Valentine’s opinion'is supported by both New Zealand and Australian dairy farmers who have gone into' the industry here, which is sufficient proof of their belief in its possibilities. Mr Riddick, a Canadian dairy expert, who recently passed through on his way from Australia, examined the Tailevu butter and pronounced it fit for any market. I think the above is sufficient to disprove the statements of your correspondent. In spite of his opinions to the contrary, we have here thousands of acres of unoccupied land well suited for dairying, and an ideal climate. What we really need is settlers.

r enclose a copy of Mr Valentine’s report, and shall be glad if you will file it for reference by any of your readers who may be interested. P. W. EVANS, Hon. Sec. Fiji Planters’ Assn. Suva, Fiji, July 11.