Scope For Development In Fiji

Are Primary Industries Receiving Due Help From Government?

Letter to the Editor.

THE average Australian cannot under stand the methods employed to de velop a country such as Fiji.

Fiji has unusual fertility of soil, a genial climate, regular seasons (pro viding green pastures all the year round), an absence of animal pests and general healthy conditions. One is in clined to regard it as a veritable para dise for the grazier or farmer—and so it would be if steps had been taken to develop it, as was done in the early days of Australia.

The first thing that claims notice is the method of administration, compared with the public service of Australia.

The Fiji public official appears to be on “an excellent wicket,” as after a few years of service, at a liberal salary, he is entitled to long leave of absence on full pay, with passage grants for both himself and family; and, on the expiration of his service, to a generous pension. The Australian is at a loss to understand why, if these officers can be done without, for such long periods, their services may not be dispensed with altogether. Just recently one of these gentlemen, occupying a top-notch position, was absent for several months on a jaunt to the Old Country, and it may be assumed that he not only con tinued to draw his handsome salary but liberal expenses also. Why or for what reason it was necessary for such a high

official to vacate his post, history sayeth not. However, during his absence the Colony continued to pursue the even tenor of its way, in the usual manner.

These remarks are applicable to many other instances of highly-paid officials being absent from their duties for long periods and, of course, regularly draw ing their pay. Under such conditions, is it to be wondered at that 50 per cent, or more of the gross revenue of the Colony is absorbed in Administra tion costs?

Another contrast with Australian methods is the appointment of a num ber of officers who are called District Commissioners. These gentlemen oc cupy the same position, and carry out the same duties as a Police Magistrate in Australia and are well paid for really minor duties.

In most country districts in Australia these duties are allotted to a senior sergeant of police, who, with the assist ance of one or two honorary Justices of the Peace, efficiently carries out prac tically the same duties at about one third of the salary paid to the Fiji official, and with no concessions in the way of passage grants, etc.

There can be no objection taken to periods of relaxation being granted to members of the Civil Service, but these should be moderate. Again, it is noticed that few “Colonials” are given positions

in the service, although the two or three who have managed to secure an ap pointment are conspicuous for ability.

It would seem that youths, born in the Colony, of European descent, are practically debarred from entering the charmed circle of officialdom, notwith standing the fact of their having gained honors in their scholastic career. It would seem that even Indians, many of whom are employed in the service, are given preference over the Colonials.

In this connection it is significant that the very progressive and well-con ducted C.S.R. Co.’s operations are prin cipally, if not entirely, carried out by Colonial employees.

The Crown Colony methods of de veloping a new country do not appeal to an Australian. It annoys him to see a really magnificent country being messed up. Although we have what is called a Legislative Council, the elected members are in such a small minority that their time is simply wasted, as no matter what suggestions they may put forward, unless they happen to he in accord with the views of these mostly inexperienced official members, they are ruthlessly thrown out.

One cannot help comparing the methods employed in, say, Papua, under Australian administration, with those adopted in Fiji. Although Papua has been colonized for only a decade or two the progress of the place is many years in advance of Fiji, which las been under the control of British ad ministration for close upon 50 years.

Although practically we have no Public Debt, nor unemployed, yet we have quite a number of taxes and liceness for every avenue of business.

Besides, out Customs tariff is very heavy, including an export tax on all primary produce. No wonder the

Colony was recently described as a country of taxes and licenses.

Although it is universally acknow ledged that the future progress and welfare of the Colony are wholly de pendent upon primary products, no at tempt is being made to foster the minor industries, or make any effort to intro duce crops, which promise profitable exploitation. The only bright spot in this direction is an experimental farm, established a few years since, originally to try out different varieties of cotton, but which has of late taken up the work of trying out other varieties of produce.

The work carried out on this farm is most creditable to those engaged in conducting operations (by the same token, Colonials). Also, a deal of credit is due to the entomologists attached to the Department of Agriculture, who have done and are still doing excellent work.

Unfortunately, we have no European settlers engaged in agriculture of this

description and it is hopeless to expect the Indians to take advantage of the lesson to be learned from the experi mental farm, as they persistently re fuse to be taught, but adhere to the primitive methods they are used to in their homeland.

It is evident that a huge blunder has been made in allowing these Indians to remain in the Colony, unless under indenture, and to occupy lands on their own account. However, this question has already been ably dealt with in an article which appeared in a recent issue of the “P.I.M.”

Just recently it was reported that the Government proposes to take con trol of the affairs of our two Municipal Councils —Suva and Levuka. So far, no reason has been given for this move, but it is thought by some to be the thin edge of the wedge, foreshadowing the granting of the “common rule” to the Indians. No doubt the aldermen and taxpayers will have something to say on the matter.

The commercial life of the Colony ap pears to be in the hands of a few affluent men, spoken of locally as ‘‘The Big Four.” These gentlemen seem to control prices of nearly all commodities and are interested in any industry started which shows a likelihood of profit.

The insatiable love of the Indians for litigation on the slightest pretext, no matter at what cost, is a source of much profit to the legal profession in Fiji.

A few years ago a dairying scheme was evolved and sponsored by the

Government for the benefit of returned soldiers and sailors. After much bungling and a waste of money, which an Aus tralian school-boy would have been ashamed of, the industry was got going.

But as soon as it gave promise of bring ing in a little gain, others jumped into the game; and, it is said, were assisted by the Government to do so. As a re sult, we now have three different lots of people engaged in the business. One company, which happens to own a fairly large area of land, started a butter fac tory, and offered its land to settlers, agreeing at the same time to take their cream at a stated price, which it is understood was 11d. per lb. of butter fat. Although most of the land is occu pied by Indians, there are some five or six Europeans who entered into the scheme. It is said these people have had a somewhat rude awakening as all sorts of expenses are charged against their returns, such as manufacturing costs, selling commission, storage, freight, etc. This brings the nett pro ceeds to the supplier to about 8d. per lb. of butter fat, out of which he has to pay rent of the holding, labour costs, utensils, etc., and, as he has to find his own cattle and dwelling, there is little left for living expenses. The company is understood to be making a profit.

The only other butter factory operat ing in the group is run on co-operative lines, and from the statement issued for last year, which ended on June 30 last, this concern was able to pay their suppliers an average of 1/- per lb. for butter fat. This is something like 4d. per lb. more than the proprietary con cern.

The general opinion is held that until Fiji makes some effort to induce Europeans to settle in the Colony these conditions will prevail, and probably end disastrously. It is also thought that the British Colonial Office cannot be aware of the conditions here, otherwise some steps would be taken to remedy matters.

I am, etc.,

Richard B. Howard,

Navua, Fiji, 26/9/1933.

EDITORIAL NOTE.— Statistics relating to Fiji trade and production, in comparison with other countries, do not support Mr. Howard’s general contention. Fiji is one of the most prosperous countries in the world to-day. Its trade balance is large and growing; and, compared with other countries devoted to primary production, its taxation burden is negligible.

Anyone who has seen Australia struggling under its appalling load of administrative costs, will not appreciate Mr. Howard’s argument.

Seven full-blown Parliaments: hundreds of over paid. useless, professional politicians; overstaffed departments, which are duplicated and multiplied to the point of absurdity; and hordes of bureaucratic officials, interfering with private enterprise and individual freedom at every point of communal life—that is not an exaggerated picture of Australian administration to-day. For reasons of both efficiency and economy, we ven ture to say that Australia gladly would throw its present costly administrative machinery over board. and adopt the British Colonial Office organisation, if it were only possible.

Australian administration in Papua and New Guinea, under the direction in each case of one strong man, is a model for the world. Aus tralian administration in Australia, being domin ated by our so-called “democratic governments,” is discouraging private enterprise at every point.

But we are entirely at one with Mr. Howard on the subject of the non-settlement of Fiji by Europeans. This group is just sufficiently far south to be a white man’s country. It has an equable climate, a fertile soil, plenty of cheap land and labour, low taxation, and—with due deference to our correspondent—efficient adminis tration. White settlers and new capital should be pouring into this Colony. The fact that they are not has been to us, for two years, a mystery.