Investment

Obviously, the solution to most of Fiji's problem lies in the wise use of "filthy lucre." and most of this must come from the pockets of overseas investors.

"There is a screaming need for investment of New Zealand development capital, particularly in agriculture but also in minor industries and other fields." uttered one visiting politician from Fiji. But he and his visiting colleagues need to be reminded that investors from New Zealand will not invest in Fiji simply because Fiji needs their money. Concrete examples of the type. "there's gold in them thar hills" need to be placed in the hands of investors, before they will risk their wealth. The visiting politicians' press statements and their one pathetic interview over the NZBC gave little indication of such examples.

The Governor of Fiji (Sir Derek Jakeway was a little more forthright. (Evening Post, 26/2/65). Said he, while visiting Australia, "The average person in Fiji believed that Australia did pretty well in terms of jobs and profits, and that it would not do Australia any harm to put some of it back." This type of statement, blunt, precise, and one with which I heartly concur, is again unlikely to bring much result. However Sir Derek was more to the point when he directed attention to two fields for investment: "One obvious field would be in the meat and fish canning industries, because Fiji imported £400,000 worth of each of these commodities annually. Another field which has barely been scratched was timber, which had most attractive potentialities."

But little follow-up of these proposals have been forthcoming. A 23-page booklet entitled "Investment in Fiji" and issued by the Government of Fiji appears to be designed to attract tourists rather than investments. Pretty pictures of the "Hibiscus Festival" and tourists soaking up beer beside a swimming pool catches the eye: timber, meat and fish hardly receive any mention in this booklet, and yet these are the resources whose wise exploitation could provide employment for the hundreds leaving school each year.

So Luke. Jone and Sukhdeo. till "the powers that be" carefully study and face the problem of juvenile unemployment realistically, your potential talents must lie dormant and your intended service to the colony must remain unrendered, unless, of course, your paths may cross that of another "emotional" individual who knows a philanthropist.

Letters To The Editor In This Issue Are On Page Four