QUEER SIDE OF THINGS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4598, 7 September 1923, Page 3

QUEER SIDE OF THINGS

F DAIRYING AGAIN. (By Septimus.) 1 am still in Fiji, despite all the hon-ible things that were going :o happen to me because 1 wrote a few facts- about dairying in Fiji. There have been contradictions, of course, and some of the attackers who wrote from here to the “Hauraki Plains Gazette” showed that they had far more kick than I. gave them credit for. I have been vindicated, however, by one pf the leading residents of Fiji—he did it without knowing, apparently, that there was one called Septimus on this “ dark and sin-stained planet.” I refer to the Hon. Hy. Marks, 0.8. E., who has just, returned to Suva after a lengthy holiday in the Old Country. Mr Marks was interviewed, and during that interview he said it would be futile to encourage white settlement here (in connection with dairying) until they had something to offer. Just sc—that is what'l wrote in my effort to prevent New Zealand small farmers from coming to Fiji on the representation of implement sellers and would-be .sellers of land, Mr Marks does not a, agree with me regarding the possi- ■ bilities of dairying in Fiji—-but he does agree that the time for encouraging this type of settlement is not opportune. In his- desire to boost dairying prospects, however., he says “Fiji's dairy produce is equal to that of either Australia or New Zealand.” He then advocated that before anything was done in the way of attracting settlers for dairying the Government should introduce purebred cattle, etc. Funny, isn’t it. It’s a problem for a Standard I. boy: If the dairy produce of Fiji is now equal to that of either Australia or New Zealand why should they want to introduce new cattle ? Surely it. is a mistake. Why,, if Mr Marks is right in his statement, Fiji should offer its cattie for sale in the New Zealand markets. Its produce is second to none—yet Government assistance is wanted for cattle before settlement is encouraged. The Hauraki Plains branch of the Fanners’ Union might be able to say if my logic is wrong, \but it seems to me that if the produce is right the cattle cannot be far wrong. To come down to facts : Fiji does badly want purebred cattle ’.n order to enable the dairying here to deal with home consumption—that is if it is proposed to go on with it. And the most of the animals must, and will, be bought from New Zealand even though the produce of Fiji is equal, etc. When a ma,n commences to buy land he never knows where his dealings will lead him. The gentleman to whom I refer above has publicly said that land can be had here for £5 m acre equal to any obtainable in the Dominion at £lOO an acre—lovely grass' land,' you know, a(ll ready for dairying—l don’t think. Now,- th astatement may be forwarded to you by the enthusiastic gentlemen of the “unlimited implements and land sellF<jng brigade,” and it would hurt me to think that it should be believed. I would suggest that any farmer in New Zealand who believes this should write to the Colonial Secretary,. Government House, . Suva, Fiji, asking what land is now available at thatiftgure. One gentleman has given me j£®standing order for 1000 acres of dairying land alt; £5 an acre, and J cannot see one acre in sight yet. Of course, I am on the spot—and one doesn’t see these things when one is too close. That may account for it. One New Zealander who wrote down here inquiring for land has been offered a. certain section at £25 an acre, and it is not one in a proper condi- _ ‘ tion for dairying, nor is there yet a dairy - factory within a week’s journey of it. All this business of making Fiji a great dairying country is hot air. It never can be, It wasn’t meant to be. It’s a lovely country for the producv- tion of tropical products—an ideal r tropical country, with unlimited prospects if some new blood gets a hand' in the management of things. It is dying for new blood —but r.ew blood doesn’t get a show. It’s the same old cry that one meets with in the small towns all over the world- —"wait till you have been here as long as I have.” They have nearly all “waited,” and a few of them have made JlKhey when it, was as easy as “falling off a log”—the days of dirt-cheap labour and high prices. That age has gone, but the “waiters” are waiting, and they don’t want any new ideas. If they did, and if they were willing to recognise that some of the people in other countries know just a little about the scheme of things, Suva would become one of the great tourist centres of the world. I have seen most of them- They have a tourist bureau here now, but it meddles with dairying—and these things don’t mix any better than oil and water. When, in another decade, the “waitbegin to realise that we all grow 'old, Fiji will come into its own. It will then become great among the countries that export tropical products, as well as for secondary industries in connection therewith ; and it will be known by .tourist throughout the world. If dairying is then __~jjfcsipned it will be as a, side line--a thing for home consumption. If I were King—of Fiji. Ah, well.