Administrative System
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Fiji Natives
Revision of Administrative System
PROPOSALS of considerable import ance, altering the organisation under which Fijian native affairs are administered, are contained in a new Bill introduced to the Fiji Legislative Council in December, and postponed, pending consultation of Fijian native opinion.
It is proposed that the Council of Chiefs shall be continued, charged with duties of an advisory nature, as hereto fore.
A Fijian Affairs Board is to be estab lished in place of the present Native Regulation Board. The new Board will consist of the Fijian members of Legis lative Council and a legal adviser, and will be presided over by the Secretary for Fijian Affairs. This Board is vested with wide powers for the making of Regulations and appointing officers.
The Bill provides for the continuation of Provincial Councils and District Councils, with substantially the same powers and duties, and for the con tinuation of Provincial Courts and Dis trict Courts, except that Provincial Courts are to be composed of either three Fijian Magistrates or of two Fijian Magistrates, and a District Commis sioner, instead of a DC and one Fijian Magistrate as at present. Appeals will be from District Courts to Provincial Courts, instead of to District Commis sioners as at present, or vesting in the legal adviser to the Board a new power to revise decisions of Fijian Courts, and for the reference to the Board (and, if necessary, to the Council of Qhiefs) of all Bills affecting Fijians before their introduction into Legislative Council.