Newsletter From Fiji

INDIAN COMMUNITY NOW MORE CONTENTED FIJI'S COST OF LIVING —THE THREAT TO LEVUKA —BOY SCOUT ENTHUSIASM — UNION

Co. Versus Matson.

From Our Own Correspondent.

SUVA, August 7.

SUVA seems to be fortunate in its central position in the Southern Pacific, so that large mail steamers, warships and small yachts usually make it a port of call. Recent visitors included the Chilean training ship, “General Baquedano” and the “Nomad” from San Francisco. The Chilians were a very genial crowd and stayed for about 10 days before leaving for Syd ney.

The “Nomad” belongs to a young man called Pease, connected with the California Packing Corporation. She is a small craft—not much larger than the average 20 ton cutter in the Is lands—and we understand the Har bourmaster has advised them that she is rather on the light side to go from here to Sydney.

Indians Without Grievances

The Indian position in Fiji is vastly different from that pictured in Aus tralian papers, where often those who desire to further the doctrine of White Australia hold up Fiji as a lurid ex ample of unrest.

In actual fact, there are not more than 40 to 45 cases of crime a year, which are sufficiently serious to find their way from the District Commis sioners’ Courts to the Supreme Court.

There is no poverty and no oppression, and so the Indians flourish exceed ingly.

The Indian, however, is akin to the Irishman, in that he is unhappy unless he has a grievance.

We notice that in recent years, since the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. adopted the policy of breaking up plan tations and replacing them by settle ments of Indian tenant farmers, the Indian population is much more con tented. Since the Indians were given elected representation in the Legislative Council they have made no use of it; in fact, nowadays, they probably have forgotten about it. The Indian mem bers withdrew two years ago from Council, since they said that they wanted all elected members to be elected from a common roll of Euro peans, Indians, etc.

However, the common roll has faded into the background as an Indian grievance. To-day, their grievances are religious differences among them selves, Hindu versus Moslem, etc. These religious differences have been accen tuated by the fact that the Moslems cut away from the rest of the Indians, and instead of joining in with the common roll they have gone to the other extreme by asking for separate representation in the Legislative Coun cil for Moslems.

Grocery Prices

There has been an amusing corres pondence in The Fiji Times, which ori ginated in a letter from “House Wife,” in which she quoted prices ruling else where for groceries, and corresponding prices in Suva.

This brought forth indignant re joinders from the two Big Firms, in which they quoted their selling prices and showed what little margin, if any, they were making. A third firm, how ever, scored the honours, some couple of days later, by saying they had been too busy attending to their custom ers to write letters, but they were glad to note their competitors’ prices were now down almost to the level of their own.

Some of the prices may be inter esting to your readers in other parts of the Pacific. Here they are: Matches —10/6 gross.

Flour —4/- for 25 lbs.

Tea —2/3 per lb.

White sugar—3d. per lb.

Bread —6d. per loaf.

Jam —1/2 per 240 z. tin.

Cheese —1/3 per lb.

Kerosene —20/- per case.

The last direct steamer from London brought back one of Suva’s interesting personalities in Dr. Hamilton Beattie.

Rumour has it that he is to build a new picture theatre in Suva for the Talkies.

The doctor is one of the few Euro peans who are members of the Indian Reform League, and was garlanded on arrival by representatives of the Indian community. His influence in Indian affairs is considerable and is always exerted in the cause of unity and moderation.

Exports And Imports

Comparative statements of imports and exports for the half-years ended 30th June, 1930 and 1931, were pub lished in a recent Gazette. The value of the imports shrank from £678,300 to £486,600, with a corresponding falling off of £31,000 odd in duty.

The biggest falling off was at Levuka which is dependent solely on the copra trade, whereas Lautoka is all sugar, and Suva a mixture of sugar, copra and bananas.

Levuka has become almost moribund, so much so that there has recently been some talk in the press of shut ting down Levuka as a port of entry.

Naturally, this has evoked strong pro test, as Levuka is almost a tradition in Fiji, and was the capital until the early eighties. Generally speaking, Levuka has probably been over-devel oped in recent years, but it will cer tainly come again when copra revives.

It is significant that Suva tends to become more and more the centre and, for the six months of 1931 three-quar ters of the imports were through Suva.

Burns, Philp seem to favour Suva, and their really huge premises are now nearing completion. Rumour has it that they will cost the best part of £50,000.

H.M.S. Diomede, with Admiral Blake aboard, will be here from 19th to 31st August. The Laburnum is due back from her Western Pacific High Com mission cruise, with Sir Murchison Fletcher, on 26th August; the Veronica, with Commander Morgan, of Napier earthquake fame, is due here on 24th August; and we expect H.M.A.S. Can berra here from September 24 to Sep tember 29.

Scouts From Four Races

Fiji has quite a number of scouting enthusiasts, and is fortunate in having as Chief Scout a Governor such as Sir Murchison Fletcher, who affords prac tical help to the movement. As a con sequence the quarantine island at Nu kulau was made available for the Annual Scout Rally, held at the begin ning of August. In addition, the Gov ernment yacht, Pioneer, arranged to visit Lautoka and return in such a way as to be able to bring in contingents from the sugar districts. Altogether there were close on 500 scouts in camp over the week-end, composed of Euro pian, Fijian, Indian and Chinese troops.

Competition for Fiji Standard, awarded to the best all-round troop, was very keen, and only two points separated the leading three, which consisted of two Indian Troops and a Fijian Troop.

The Shipping War

We have just heard that the C.P.R. have taken over the Aorangi and the Niagara from the Union Co. Presum ably, the stage is being set for the struggle for supremacy between Ameri can and British shipping interests in the Pacific. To us, it means better service and possibly some other inter esting developments. The new Matson boats will commence running from next year.