Fiji Wants A Threepenny
p. 40 · Read in the full issue
Piece
From our own correspondent
Suva Nov 12
ONE of the matters brought ’ before the recent meeting of the Fiji Legis lative Council was a proposal to re introduce the threepenny piece in the Colony. When new coinage of. a special Fijian design was introduced at the be ginning of 1934, to replace British cur rency in use for 60 years, the humble threepence was not included—the then Governor (Sir Murchison Fletcher) was of opinion that coins of smaller denom inations, penny and halfpenny, made for cheap prices, small profits, and quick turnover.
At the recent session, most of the un
official members of the Council including Ratu Sukuna and the two Indian repre sentatives, supported Hon. Alport Barker’s motion that the threepence be put back - circu^a tion. Business and banking ite rein “ 1 oductlon ’ some members stated, The discussion was brought to a halt, however, when Sir Harry Luke (Governor) pointed out that coinage was a restricted subject—legislation must not be intro duced without the prior consent of the Secretary of State, in England. He added that the text of the debate would be sent to London. But members do not imagine that anything will be done about it—Fiji’s need for threepences assumes very insignificant proportions these days, while the Battle of Britain rages.