Criticism Of Fiji's New

Constitution

THE constitutional changes made in Fiji three years ago, under which elected legislative and municipal bodies were abolished, and bodies almost wholly nominative substituted—the re sult of Indian agitation for “the common roll”—were criticised lately in a speech made at Levuka by Mr. H. B. Gibson a member of the Legislative Council.

He said that there was a general feel llaS it was a bad thing that people who contributed in scarcely any way whatsoever to the revenue of the Colony should have such tremendous power over the spending of the public funds, whilst those who contributed that money had practically no say at all.

Mr. Gibson gave examples of the vari ous ways in which members could influ ence, and had influenced the Secretary of State, though defeated in Council. He urged his hearers that if ever they were the opportunity of again signifying whether they favored the doctrine of election or nomination in the Legislative

Council or a return of the old elected Municipal Councils, they should leave no doubt as to the unity of their opinion.

Captain V. Rohrlach, master of the Lutheran Mission’s motor vessel “Bavaria”, returned to Finschhafen, New Guinea,’ in July after spending furlough abroad.

Mr. Jacques Mouren, of Noumea, will shortly marry Miss Kazuko Kitazawa, daughter of Mrs. Kitazawa, who is de scribed as New Caledonia’s “Iron Queen”, according to a cable message from Tokyo published in Australian newspapers on August 2.

Mr. Norman Fisher. Government geolo gist in New Guinea, returned to Wau early in July, with Mrs. Fisher. They have been for some time in Java, where Mr.

Fisher has been obtaining information on vulcanological matters.

Mr. Archibald Robert Green married Miss Jessie Washington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Washington. Kabaira Plantation, New Guinea, on July 28. at the Rabaul Methodist Church.