Newsletter From Fiji

New Zealand Squadron’s Visit Round of Functions Colony’s Financial Position From Our Own Correspondent.

SUVA, Sept. 3.

FOR THE past 10 days or so, the New Zealand Squadron of the Royal Navy has been at anchor in Suva Harbour.

The squadron consists of the Dio mede, a 6,000 ton cruiser, and the two old mine sweeping sloops of the Flower class, the Veronica and the Laburnum, The Diomede flies the flag of Rear- Admiral Blake, a genial personality, who has made himself very popular during the short visit. In this ship are two distinguished officers in Com mander Crutchley, V.C., D.S.O., and Lieutenant Commander Bremner, D.S.O., D.S.C. Both of them won their principal decorations for gallantry in the raids of Zeebrugge and Ostend.

Mr. Bremner was in the coastal motor boats and was delighted to meet in Suva Mr. L. R. McGinley, whom he described as being one of the best mechanics who had served with him in the C.M.B.’s. According to him, a large proportion of the mechanics in the C.M.B.’s came from Australia and New Zealand, and by reason of the excep tional danger and discomfort of the work, there was a remarkable bond of friendship between officers and men.

Naturally, Suva has had a gay time.

The ships of the New Zealand squadron regard Suva as their base in the Paci fic, and, after the difficult and tortu ous navigation amongst the other is land groups, they look forward with relief to the safe and comfortable anchorage of Suva.

Amongst the various functions in honour of our naval visitors, was a luncheon given by the Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Club, with Sir Maynard Hedstrom in the chair. The Chief Justice, Captain Maxwell Ander son, C.B.E., R.N. (Retd.), gave the toast of the naval guests and as an ex-naval officer and a contemporary of Admiral Blake, was free to indulge in some humorous chaff, which was promptly returned with equal vigour by Admiral Blake, much to the joy of the men of commerce present.

After saying he thought he had safely hit the Chief Justice to mid off, the Admiral in more serious vein gave some details of the police work of the squadron. The Diomede, on her present cruise had steamed over 5,000 miles, visiting over a dozen ports.

The sloops had each done something like 7,500 miles, the Laburnum visiting 21 ports and the Veronica 13.

It was indeed of great interest to Suva business men to hear the Admiral describe Suva as the focal point in the South Pacific and a place which he felt was destined to increase vastly in importance in the future. He spoke in glowing terms of the New Zealand personnel, whom, he said, numbered 50 per cent, of his ship’s company, and to whose endurance and cheerfulness in the recent troubles in Samoa he paid high tribute.

The Governor, Sir Murchison Flet cher, who had just returned from his Island cruise, and the Chief Justice of Eastern Samoa, the Hon. F. T.

Wood, were amongst the guests.

Many Sporting Fixtures

The sporting fixtures included a ver itable whirl of golf, football, tennis, water polo in the new baths, etc. Two fixtures of rather more than usual in terest were the matches arranged by the Suva Ladies’ Rifle Club and by a group of polo enthusiasts. In the for mer, a team of Suva ladies scored pre cisely the same number of points as the team from the Diomede, which included such eagle-eyed persons as the Admiral himself, his Commander and his Captain of Marines, whilst one of the ladies had the honour of obtain ing the top score of the match.

The polo match took place on the beach at Suva Point, at low tide, and resulted in a win for the navy by 4 goals to 2.

It was the versatile Admiral who was responsible for the commencement of polo in Suva, since the game was un known here until his visit last year.

His parting gift on that occasion of a couple of polo sticks to one of the local police officers created interest in polo and on Sundays nowadays in Suva anything up to a dozen horsemen may be seen swinging polo sticks round the necks of protesting ponies.

The Governor, Sir Murchison Flet cher, who is also High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, has been spend ing a couple of months touring the constituent parts of the High Commis sion.

The Laburnum (Captain Hotham, D.S.C.) has been responsible for his transport, and there is no doubt that his visit and the local knowledge thus acquired will prove of such benefit as is possible in these days of depression, to the settlers of other groups.

He visited the Solomons. New Heb rides, Santa Cruz, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, and Rotuma.

On his return to Suva he was plunged into the difficulties surrounding the preparation of the Budget for 1932, which will be presented to a meeting of the Legislative Council some time in October. In his absence, an Economy

Committee, under the Colonial Treas urer, has been hard at work, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the moun tains will not bring forth a mouse.

The expenditure of the Colony in 1930 was approximately £650,000, and the year closed with a small deficit of £6,000 odd. For 1931 revenue and ex penditure were expected to balance at about £600,000. It seems fairly certain that the estimate of revenue will not be reached, and we are all wondering how the gap is to be bridged.

The last statement of assets and lia bilities of the Colony shows a surplus of £150,000 odd, and the expected debit balance on this year’s accounts might be very properly written off against this surplus.

As to 1932, further taxation appears inevitable, unless very drastic economy can be effected, including a re-adjust ment of salaries and leave concessions amongst civil servants. In recent years social services have been largely ex tended and even the temporary cessa tion or diminution of them would prove a retrograde step.