How They Vary

Wages In Fiji

Three Classes Of Labour

IN the belief that prosperous Fiji may offer chances of employment, we have had many inquiries about wages in that Crown Colony.

Information is given hereunder, but it should be made clear that Fiji also is suffering from depression and unemployment, and the chances of obtaining work there are little better than in Australia or New Zealand.

The following particulars are taken from the Governor’s annual report for 1930.

The employment of Fijians falls mainly into five classes: agricultural labourers, casual labourers, artisans, seamen and domestic servants.

Agricultural labourers are usually employed under a contract of service for a period of 12 months. The aver age wage is £24 a year on copra plantations and, for those who sign agreements wdth the Sugar Company, £18 a year and a bonus of £5 at the conclusion of the contract, with food, lodging, medical attention and some clothing. The hours of labour are nine per day from Monday to Friday,

and five on Saturday, making a work ing week of 50 hours.

The number of Fijians employed as artisans is comparatively small, but is slowly increasing. They are mostly carpenters, boatbuilders, mar ine engineers and firemen. Carpenters and boatbuilders get from 7/- to 12/a day, marine engineers £6 to £10month (according to the size of the vessel) and food, firemen on inter-insular vessels £5 per month, Fijian master of a vessel £6 to £10 a month.

Very few Fijians are employed as domestic servants. Native cooks get from £4 to £6 a month, and house boys and waiters £2 to £4, with food and quarters.

The Indian labourer standard wage in Suva is 2/6 a day, and in country districts 2/- to 2/6. Wages are apt to vary markedly with price of food stuffs in the locality. Skilled Indian, agricultural labourers earn up to 17/a week of 5½ days, with a bonus for a full week’s work. Mill wages range from 10/- to 21/- a week, with higher rates for special employment. For domestic servants, wages range from £3 a month for garden hands to £6 for indoor servants. Car drivers earn £8 a month and upwards.

Europeans are employed as road, overseers, lorry, crane and steam roller drivers, fitters, machinists, motor mechanics, blacksmiths, boiler makers, etc.

No fixed rate is paid to skilled workmen, the rates ranging from 14/to 20/- a day, according to the profi ciency displayed. Half-castes are em ployed as boat-builders, house car penters, blacksmiths and fitters. The following figures give an idea of the wages paid to the various classes of workmen: Carpenters and joiners, 3/6 to 20/- per day, depending on the degree of skill.

Boatbuilders, 8/- to 20/-. Some skilled Fijians employed in the boatsheds are paid from 3/9 to 8/- per day.

Mechanics (including motor mechanics, fitters, turners, blacksmiths, boilermakers, etc.), up to 20/- per day. Apprentices (usually Europeans and half-castes), 5/-, rising to £2/5/- per week.

Painters (usually Indians), 3/6 per day. Leaders up to 9/- per day.

Lorry and steam roller drivers (mostly Euro peans), 15/- to 18/- per day. The average wage is about £4/15/- per week.

Road overseers (chiefly Europeans), £18 to £25 per month. Road gang sirdars (Indian), £4/10/up to £10/8/- per month. Average wage £7 per month.