For Fiji

Hydro-electric Scheme and Land Subdivision Urged For Fiji

SUVA, March 4.

HOW can a modern community develop and progress without cheap electric power and available land?

Fiji lacks both.

The blame rests squarely on the narrow shoulders of our public officials—that is, on the Government. It alone has had the power, and the ability, to supply both items. fllO-DAY in Suva particularly there 1 are unlimited avenues for commerdal development, but there are neither offices to let, land available for purchase or lease, nor electricity for power.

But let it not be thought there is no vacant land on Suva peninsula. There are thousands of acres of it there—both Government-owned and privately-owned land growing weeds in the heart of Suva.

There are hundreds of acres of undeveloped land within two to five miles of the Government offices—yet there is a grave shortage of sites for industries and homes.

The position is serious, yet no steps are being taken to cope with it. Even when building materials* become available there will be no housing boom, because there are so few building sites.

Of course, the Government might leave it to private land-owners to provide the sites in their own good time, and at their own good price. But if it does, the position will be scandalous. Already the housing shortage is so serious that the Government should step in immediately.

acquire privately-owned land, subdivide

and develop it, and lease it out to home builders, Factory and commercial sites are not available either. Men are being pre vented from earning a living, and the Colony is losing revenue, because private land-owners will not, and the Govern ment has not compelled them to, cut up their holdings, mHE lack of electricity in Suva and Lautoka over the past few years has been serious. In Suva extra house lighting has been forbidden and domestic as well as commercial nower has been severely rationed. There’ will be an im provement here soon when new plant arrives from London T,. lf lrmo .

Dl t too is ca ?rvine its maximum lo^

£nd Suva is S in Sinnlv^’

Neither will fhe g new plant reduce PP the *S e n tic lighting in P Suva costs s?d a y ‘ki?ovStt : U ’ po^®r J What the Colony needs is a hydro electric scheme on Vitilevu. The sugges tion is an old one, and the official reply is always that it would be expensive, Given an adequate supply of electricity at reasonable prices, the Colony would develop ,! n . man y new directions, th . e standard of living of the people would substantially rise, and the scheme would P ay for An admirable opportunity to develop the Colony by satisfying its land hunger and giving it cheap electric power awaits a progressive administration.