Some Interesting

District Officer

System

Some Interesting Comment

11THAT is the most effective system of ▼ T using District Officers? It is an old, vexed problem in many territories.

Recently, Gordon Thomas discussed the matter interestingly in “Rabaul Times”.

He had come upon a conv of the ‘‘Fiji Times”, and he says:— “There has been, apparently, some criticism of government organisation in Fiji, and a Reorganisation Report has been submitted. A Fijian nominated Councillor—one Ratu J. L. V. Sukuna, CBE—had much to say about young District Officers and their work amongst the people. ‘They (the people) found themselves controlled by District Com missioners who came and went,’ said Ratu Sukuna. ‘They had no sooner settled down than they were moved somewhere else, or had to take leave, and when they returned, probably went to some other district.’

“Continuing, the Fijian Councillor pointed out that the official himself could not be blamed: ‘they were new and knew nothing of the language and nothing of the customs—yet they were sent to rule over native people and chiefs grey in years. . . . How could the Fijians have any faith in officers who had no know ledge of the Fijians?’

“Now, I have no idea what kind of a man Ratu Sukuna is. Presumably, a man of some standing, as he had received the CBE at some time or other, and evidently a man of perception and wisdom, judging from his remarks which might well apply to many other colonies and territories in the Pacific.” (We interpolate, to inform Mr. Thomas that Ratu Sukuna is one of the out standing men in Fiji. He is of noble Fijian birth, completed his education at Oxford, served with distinction in the 1914-18 war, in the French Foreign Legion, and has been recognised, for years, as one of the wisest men in the administrative service of Fiji. He was the Commissioner in charge of the Lau group, until recently, when he took charge of the newly-created Fiji Land Board.) Mr. Thomas proceeds: “One of the greatest causes of dissatisfaction and dis content in outstation areas is the too constant change of officials, the lack of continuity in the interpretation of policy. Each individual officer has his own Ideas of values, methods of putting into practice the principles of a wide policy governing native administration. Some have been blessed by the gods with ini tiative; others are unimaginative, fearful of using their own judgment and conse quently abide by each stop and comma of the Regulations.”

Now in Australia, with the intention of studying the aborigines, is Miss Doretto Miko, of New York, and until recently of Hawaii, where she carried out investi gations among the ancient burial-places in that group. Miss Miko is an MA, of the University of Minnesota, and she has lived among the Hawaiians, Fijians, Samoans, and Maoris to get a first-hand knowledge of local culture. The visitor expects to spend about six months in Australia. Miss Miko says that, of all the native peoples among whom she has lived, she prefers the Samoans. Not only are they essentially hospitable, she says, but many of them still live as their people have lived for countless genera tions.