Legislative War.

Is Fiji Council “Picking a Fight with the Governor.”

THERE has been an interesting little squabble in Fiji between the Gov ernor (Sir Murchison Fletcher) and

the Legislative Council—interesting be

cause it shows one of the difficulties of the Fijian system, which even now is under examination as a possible model for New Guinea.

The following report, written in Suva on June 2, was published in “The Syd ney Morning Herald”: There is strong feeling expressed in the streets at the action of the Governor in in creasing the salary of a newly-appointed Sec retary for Native Affairs from £800, as ap proved by the Government and the Elected Members when the Estimates were passed last October, to £1,000 without consulting the Leg islative Council, contrary to the terms of the Letters Patent. The Elected Members regarded this as an affront, and their leader, Sir Maynard Hedstrom, moved a censure motion in the Council.

The Governor (Sir A. G. M. Fletcher) said he pleaded guilty to a certain discourtesy to the members, for he should have informed them when he received the cable from the Secretary of State; but the matter had escaped his memory. He therefore expressed his regret.

On a division in the Legislative Council there were six for and 15 against, all the official and native members voting by instructions against the motion.

The Elected Members have since had a con ference, and are taking more drastic steps in the matter.

The non-resident of Fiji, knowing noth ing more of the circumstances than are set out above, receives a distinctly un

flattering opinion of the Fiji Legisla tive Council. The Governor appears to have been guilty of an oversight and an unintentional discourtesy; but he apologised, and that should have been the end of it.

It looks as if Fiji has reached the point when it wants a larger measure of definite self-governing rights, and a corresponding reduction of the Gov ernor’s power. It is a stage in the de velopment of all democracies—though, if democracies could only see it, they are infinitely better off under the rule of a wise and benevolent despot.

But if Fiji wants more power for its Legislative Council, there is a method of procedure available, that is very dif ferent from the one apparently being followed —namely, “picking a fight” with the Governor—and which is much more dignified.