Reorganisation of Fijian

Affairs What it Will Mean

IN a memorandum submitted in October to the Legislative Council of Fiji as Reconstruction Paper No. 2,” Ratu J.

L. V Sukuna, Adviser on Native Affairs lr * i® Colony, sketches the proposed alterations and modifications of native administration which will be introduced shortly.

This new step in the organisation of Fijian administration is designed to develop in the people generally a keener interest in their own local government: and at the same time to give to native chiefs and leaders a deeper sense of responsibility by permitting them greater control over their own affairs. No actual change is made in the structure of the new Ordinance (other than in a change of names for various offices)—it merely gives greater scope.

In the place of the present Native Regulation Board there will be a Board consisting of the five native members of the Legislative Council, a legal adviser and the Secretary of Fijian Affairs (now called Adviser on Native Affairs) who will act as chairman.

The new Board will have administra tive duties, and will—as does the present Board—make regulations for the welfare and good of Fijians. But if the chair man considers it advisable to bring in a n regulation before the next session of the Legislative Council he is empow ered to grant provisional approval. The Board will also be the controlling finan

cial authority in Fijian administration, subject to approval by the Governor.

There will be little change in the con stitution of the Council of Chiefs, but the scope of its deliberations will be extended by the introduction of a new prmdpie, whereby Bills affecting Fijian affairs may, on the recommendation of the Board, be submitted to the Council for consideration and recommendations By this means, states Ratu Sukuna from being merely an august body that advises and passes pious resolutions, the Council (strengthened by members who have seen active service abroad) will be enabled to take an increasing part in advising on measures affecting native interests.

OTHER proposals contained in Ratu Sukuna’s memorandum were:— • Amalgamation of areas whose people have kinship affinities. • More responsibility and better pay for Bulis. • Larger and brighter villages based on the propinquity of planting grounds. • Improvement of social services—such as in establishing Provincial Hospitals, in linking child-welfare work with other Fman social organisations, in reorganis ing educational facilities, and in develop ing water supplies to villages. • Extension of markets and new indus tries bv zoning production, bv export of saleable produce and by cattle breeding • Resumption of the demarcation of land reserves—work that was interruoted by the Pacific war.