CONDITIONS IN FIJI.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1919, Page 5

CONDITIONS IN FIJI.

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK. Auckland, April 1. "Conditions in Fiji are at present in anything but a promising state," remarked a prominent Island fruit trader to-day, who lias just returned to Auckland. "Owing to heavy losses suffered by shippers there lately, it is doubtful ■whether any but the wealthiest firms will be able to continue shipping fruit. During last winter several of the oldest shippers ha-ve had 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 consequent dearth of labor, which is a very serious problem now\ Some years ago natives were paid from 2s to 4s per day. Today, sime of the natives receive as high as Us per day with their food. The fact is that Fiji is in a very precarious position owing to the Indian Government blocking the importation of indentured labor. It is now estimated that within two years all the, available indentured labor will have run out, and what is going to happen then as far as planters of fruit is concerned no one knows. They have only the New Zealand market to rely on at present, and the last three shipments landed here were a serious loss. The Australian market is practically closed owing to the epidemic necessitating four days' quarantine for each steamer before discharging cargo. This amounts to prohibition of the shipping of perishable fruit. One day 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 has been declared a clean port and the Island is probably quite free from 'flu'." The trader in question is Mr. Fraser, and he is leaving this week for Wellington to place before the authorities an urgent suggestion that the quarantine restrictions should not apply, at least to the Island boat. Otherwise, it was doubtful whether shippers of Fiji would take the risk of sending further supplies of fruit in the circumstances.'