Model Colony

German Praise of Fiji

In an article, entitled “British Political Organisation in the Fiji Islands”, published recently in Ger many, the German Consul in Aus tralia, Dr. Rudolf Asmis, makes the following summary of conditions in Fiji:— IN summarising the foregoing descrip tion of British native policy in the colony of Fiji, unbiassed observers must acknowledge that British colonial administration has admirably succeeded in dealing with the three main depart ments of the native problem presented by the Fijian, the Indian and the half caste population, and in reconciling the

diverging interests of these groups among tnemselves and with those of the European inhabitants and of the Brit ish Empire, The great asset of British colonial practice, namely, its elasticity, has again proved its worth. Although the general principles may be laid down, tnere is no rigid dogma, each principle being adapted to a given case in accordance with circumstances. While the privi leges and the position of the white population and of the Crown are fully saieguarded, the natives are being sys tematically encouraged to share in the administration of the islands and are trained for this task.

The establishment of native self-ad ministration under utilisation of the ex isting tribal organisation, the sharing by the natives in the cost of local ad ministration, their co-operation in mat ters of education, the progressive par ticipation of the coloured people in the labours of the Legislative Council, their sharing in the military defence of the colony—all these are problems of prac tical colonial policy which appear to be solved in an exemplary fashion.

The institution of the various “Coun cils” allows the Fijians a large measure of self-administration, ensuring consid eration of their legitimate requests by the English administration, while the executive power remains in the hands of the latter.

The loyalty of the Fijians to the Governor as the representative of the King and supreme authority is very real, and the sending of a delegation to the Coronation celebrations in London has further strengthened this loyalty to wards the Crown.

Continually, efforts are being made gradually to raise the natives’ living standard, and consequently their rights as the actual and original own ers of the islands are being safeguard ed. A firm hand controls immigration and protects the islands from undesir able political agitation.

Indeed, the colony of Fiji merits also, in the domain of native policy, the name of a model colony, which it already pos sesses in the fields of finance and eco nomic development.