Reconstruction

Far-reaching Post-war Plans in Fiji

THE man responsible for the co-ordina tion of all of Fiji’s far-reaching post-war reconstruction schemes is Mr. A. L. Armstrong, formerly British Agent in Tonga. He has been working for the past year on reconstruction and has prepared a number of tentative pro posals as a basis for consideration and discussion. These will shortly be consid ered in detail in Suva by a special com mittee, which will formulate a post-war reconstructional development plan for the Colony.

The members of the committee are: The Colonial Secretary, Mr. J. F. Nicoll, Mr. Alport Barker. Mr. H. H. Ragg, Mr.

Vishnu Deo. Mr. W. G. Johnson, the Com missioner for Reconstruction (Mr A. L.

Armstrong), the Adviser on Native Affairs (Ratu J. L. V. Sukuna). the Director of Public Works (Mr. J. L. Brown), and the District Commissioner, Northern District (Mr. J. E. Windrum). This committee has already met and other meetings wfil be held until it is ready to present its report.

Suggestions already put forward cover the revision of Fiii’s administrative organisation, agriculture, land tenure, housing and town-planning, public health and medical services, education, public works—such as roads and air services— defence, currency and economic organisa tion. nrices of primary produce, public expenditure and systems of taxation.

In effect, a complete examination of the affairs of the Colony is being made to discover what improvements can be recommended which will lead to greater general efficiency and increase the wel fare and happiness of Fiji’s citizens.

In some directions, planning is already far advanced. In others, only the initial investigations have been made. The proposals for reorganising medical and public health services of Fiji and the Western Pacific Territories have already been made public and general approval has been given by the Legislative Council. Mr. Stephens has finished his investigations into education in the Col ony, and his report is expected shortly.

The outline of the new native adminis trative organisation has also been approved by Legislative Council and details are at present being worked out by the Adviser on Native Affairs, Ratu Sukuna.