Political Reform

In Fiji

European Electors' Aims

Suva, Nov. 1.

FIJI is not lagging behind other parts of the Colonial Empire in political activity. Nor, apparently, are all its European and Indian electors satisfied with their present share in the Colony’s Government.

A fairly large number of Europeans and part-Europeans here are united in what is called the European Electors’

Association of Fiji. One of the Associa tion’s principal objects is to obtain a majority of unofficial members in the Legislative Council.

Members of the Association have re cently been asked to approve a petition being sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the following form;— (1) That your petitioners consider the electors of the Colony should be able to exercise greater control over the domestic and financial affairs of the Colony. (2) That your petitioners do not con sider a nominative system for the Legislative Council is in the best interests of the Colony. (3) That the elected representatives of the constituents should have a more effective voice in the Executive Council. (4) Your petitioners, therefore, humbly suggest that the constitution of the

Legislative Council should be altered and formed as follows: — Governor as President!

Colonial Secretary Ux-officio.

Attorney- General Financial Secretary J Seven nominated members.

Six elected European members.

Six elected Indian members.

Six elected Fijian members. (5) That all the above-mentioned elected (unofficial) members should be elected from three communal racial rolls. (6) That qualifications for registration as an elector be those provided in the present Letters Patent save and except the property and income qualification which should be abolished. (7) That the franchise be open to all British subjects, men and women, over the age of 21 years. (8) That the franchise be extended to civil servants. (9) That the Executive Council be re constituted as follows: — Governor, Colonial Secretary, Attorney-General, Financial Secretary, three elected mem bers of Legislative Council chosen by the Governor from the panel of elected members of the Council. (10) That on any matter of local concern finacial or otherwise where 14 out of the 18 elected members support any motion his Excellency the Governor of Fiji should have no right of veto except in exceptional circumstances, and then only after review by the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

There seems to be no doubt that the draft petition, after some brushing up, will go to London with the blessings of a majority of the Association. rE Association contends, and we quote from its circular: — “It should be fully realised that for all practical purposes the real source of executive authority and the fountain of policy in this Colony is the Executive Council. ... , .

“The present system pretends to give

electors, through their representatives, some control over their own affairs, when, in fact, they have no real control what ever.

“The Finance Committee, a recent in novation, pretends to give unofficial members some control of the finances of the Colony, but in practice it does nothing of the sort. The Finance Com mittee at its best is only an advisory body, but operating as it does behind closed doors it presents to the Legis lative Council a financial ‘fait accompli.’

“All deliberations of the Finance Com mittee are in secret, and electors do not know how any of their elected represen tatives have voted. This secret system is fundamentally wrong and should be abolished. We suggest that henceforth, where possible, all measures should be debated in open Council, and that some measure of real control should be vested in a designated sufficient majority of the elected members by specific provision in the Letters Patent.

“We do not suggest a completely demo cratic self-government for Fiji. The Colony is obviously not yet ready for this . . . We do submit that the peoples of Fiji, subject to suitable safeguards to prevent domination by any group of any other groups, are quite capable of tak ing much more control of, and interest in, their own affairs than they are permitted to have at present. The present Letters Patent, with no effective control exercis able by the elected representatives of the people prevent the practice of self-gov ernment, and lead inevitably to a wide spread apathy, instead of an intelligent progressive interest in the Government of this Colony.

“The chief reason for this present lack of interest in their own political affairs by the electors of this Colony is the cer tain knowledge that, irrespective of whom they elect to the Legislative Council under the present constitution such elected members are powerless effectively to succeed against the Government majority.” ¥¥THATEVERw.may be the result of the ff Association’s proposed petition, Fiji’s political position cannot re main static, and the Administration is in for some violent Headaches.

Out of 24 different foodstuffs listed in a questionnaire to 2,000 soldiers in the tropics, steak and eggs was the only item liked by everyone.