40.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give figures for banana production in Fiji over the last 10 years.
With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Do these figures show any drop in the banana production in Fiji? Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is need for an energetic atttack on the problem of the economic rehabilitation of Fiji at the present moment?
Very careful consideration is given by the local Government to the future economic progress of Fiji. In reply to the first part of the question, there has been a considerable drop in the production of bananas, compared with the prewar years.
Following is the reply:
As part of the Fiji banana crop is consumed locally, and cultivation is carried on by numerous small-holders, exact figures of production are not available.
Export figures are as follow:
| (cases of 90 lbs.): | ||||
| 1937 | … | … | … | 154,419 |
| 1938 | … | … | … | 158,195 |
| 1939 | … | … | … | 56,946 |
| 1940 | … | … | … | 90,290 |
| 1941 | … | … | … | 40,745 |
| 1942 | … | … | … | 91,662 |
| 1943 | … | … | … | 76,943 |
| 1944 | … | … | … | 36,667 |
| 1945 | … | … | … | 77,176 |
| 1946 | … | … | … | 87,439 |
During the war years the following bananas were supplied to the Armed Forces:
| (cases of 90 lbs.): | ||||
| 1940 | … | … | … | 10,000 |
| 1941 | … | … | … | 20,000 |
| 1942 | … | … | … | 30,000 |
| 1943 | … | … | … | 50,000 |
| 1944 | … | … | … | 20,000 |
| 1945 | … | … | … | 20,000 |
Local consumption is estimated roughly at the equivalent of 50,000 cases per annum.