§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken to maintain the sugar industry of Fiji following the breakdown of the conference between the Colonial Sugar Refining Company and the Fiji canegrowers' associations; and what reply has been given to the request of the canegrowers' associations that a commission of inquiry into the economics of the industry should be appointed.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe Governor has tried to bring about a settlement by having talks with each side, and at his invitation both parties met at Government House on 8th and 9th June to see whether agreement was possible. Some useful progress was made and the gap between the two sides was narrowed but no agreement on the question of price could be reached. The Governor suggested to the meeting that an independent inquiry into the economy of the industry might be the best solution. This was acceptable to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company but not to the growers' representatives, whose attitude was later endorsed by the growers themselves, and the meeting ended without agreement. Since then the Governor and the Commissioner of Labour have continued informal discussions with the leaders of both parties, and I understand that the differences between the two sides is now a narrow one.
The Cane Growers Association has not requested the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry.