Forecast of Changed Industrial Conditions and

War's Effect On Fiji's Communities

Forecast of Changed Industrial Conditions and Closer Government Control

By W. G. Johnson

(Mr. W. G. Johnson, now managing director of Messrs. W. R. Carpenter & Co. (Fiji), Ltd., was a visitor to Sydney early in May. He has lived a long time in Fiji, and his opinions about the present and future condition of the Colony, in an economic and political sense, are interest ing. At our invitation, Mr. Johnson courteously supplied us with the following article.) mHE opinion is widely held that the J. Fijian natives will be unsettled in the post-war period—especially those who have been removed from communal village life and who have served with the Forces.

Undoubtedly, the Fijian will have somewhat changed views and a changed sense of monetary values; but this change is world-wide, and its relative difference to the Fijian will be not much more than to the Australian, the Ice lander or the South African.

There have been “incidents” in which the behaviour of individual Fijians has been open to criticism—there may be others—but the Fijian is amenable to discipline. He respects the authority of his chiefs, he knows the law and, pro vided he finds authority doing its job properly and warranting his respect, he will not be found rebellious, but will be a law-abiding person, and always loyal, as he has been in the past.

Many will be only too glad to try to return to the life which they have lived.

Altered economic standards and a higher living level will demand of them a greater effort, and they will fit into a sound economic plan. Past rates for service will not prevail in'the future.

Plans for the future must be based on improved levels, which can possibly be

brought about by conference with the Mother Country and other parts of the Empire, in the first instance, and assisted by international co-operation, particularly between those interested in the Pacific’s problems.

THERE will be more regulation by Gov ernment than there has been in the past; but that is not undesirable, provided it is sound.

Part of our troubles have arisen from lack of planning and control; but the development of sound commercial pur suits is the basis on which any success ful reconstruction plans, envisaging the economic advancement of the Fijians, must be based. I feel sure that com mercial enterprise, working in good liaison with the Administration, is cap able of producing reasonable results.

HERE, a word must be said of the relationship between the Adminis tration and commercialism. I am not for the moment considering com mercialism in the sense of shopkeeping, and buying and selling, but in the wider sense of development.

There is frequently jealousy between commercial and Government circles, to the disadvantage of both. Those in com merce are envied because they are said to have greater opportunities for gain. But, for the relative few who are large share holders in a successful commercial enter prise, there are many on fixed incomes.

They are important members of the com munity, who contribute their share in direct and indirect taxation, while they are in steady employment, or who, in the course of their daily work, provide ser vices essential to the support and supply of the Colony. Such commercial people frequently are not protected in their later

years by pension schemes, etc., such as are provided for Government servants.

There are advantages and disadvan tages on both sides. The point I wish to make is that jealousy and dispute over such things serve no useful purpose—and that co-operation and the general good are the things to be considered.

Those in commerce might well pause to reflect that they have some advan tages. Their successes or failures are mainly measured in terms of money Their failures are largely buried with the closing of annual accounts—provided the successes exceed the failures in a satis factory sum remaining in the profit and loss account at the end of a year. Their decisions, when taken and tried, can most times be closed off with the annual balance.

ON the other hand, many important decisions by Government continue to affect the people; and a decision to-day can still be, a matter of import ance for the community for a long time to come. True, Governments can bury their mistakes, and the people pay for them; but, measured in terms of political peace or disturbance, the decisions of Government can live to a ripe old age and continue to rise from time to time.

Many important and at times unex pected situations demand rapid decisions, the effects of which can continue for a long time. But at least the commercial man, most times, pays for his experience and is done with the incident—except to keep it in mind, to prevent his falling into the same error again.

If commercial enterprise is not ham pered and works in co-operation with the Administration, a large part of the eco nomic problems of the Fijian will be solved. This doesn’t mean that the coco nut planter will get labour in small or large numbers, at rates paid in the past, but suggests that co-operation can bring rates of pay, and returns for primary

products, and the output of industry, nearer together—particularly if Empire wide consultation and co-operation is achieved.

AND what of the Indians?

I cannot subscribe to the view set out in your publication, some time ago, that the Indians might be moved to some other part of the world, with advantage to Fiji. Population in our Islands will never prove a disadvantage.

The recent disturbance in the sugar industry, and those before it, have mostly been the result of a struggle for power between-a few Indians, all seeking to be leaders. They have influenced the masses to a greater or lesser degree. To achieve their ends they have suggested higher prices for the products of the land than reasonable economic organisation can pay.

These people cannot be deported or

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restrained to any great degree, because they are cunning enough to evade the law.

The Indians in Fiji are far removed from India. For most of them, Fiji is their birthplace—and for them the tales of India, and its lore and living condi tions are glamourised.

In sober mood, the Indian people appre ciate the conditions under which they live in Fiji, and the opportunities they have there. Efforts to convince them of this, and counter-measures against the few disturbers, would be amply repaid.

There is a lot of room in commercial development schemes for the Indian population, provided they realise that agriculture is their best bet, that many are fitted for industry and that the law and the civil service can absorb only relatively few.

THE partly-coloured people—the Euro

nesians—are another nroblem. Plan ned development and readiness on their part to engage in new activities— to give good work for fair pay—to show enterprise and confidence in themselves, with improved technical educational facilities, will go a long way to helping them.

But they must not lose confidence in themselves or try to go the easy way.

Those who wish to succeed must try by studv and work to fit themselves for bet ter positions. There is scope for social organisations, combining technical sub jects. among the partly-coloured people.

The latter, however, are sensitive about sympathy, or any over-emphasis of their status * With wise planning, control, co-opera tion, and readiness to accept the present and be ready for the future, and to put away some of the past, Fiii can look forward with reasonable confidence to a fair share in the New Order to which the Colonies feel they have a right.

Dr. John W. Burton, son of Rev. J. W.

Burton (secretary general of the Metho dist Overseas Mission), has been ap pointed one of the-advisers to the Govern ment representatives to the 20th Inter national Labour Conference just com pleted at Philadelphia, USA.