Long Discussion by Legislative Council But No

The Fate Of The Fijian Race

Long Discussion by Legislative Council But No Solution

SUVA, July 17.

THE present session of Legislative Coun cil which was opened by the Gover nor on July 12, has. so far, produced nothing startling in the way of legisla tion.

Yesterday was given up entirely to de bate on a motion put to the Council by Mr. A. A. Ragg that “In the opinion of this Council the time has arrived—in view of the great increase in the non- Fijian inhabitants and its consequential political development—to emphasise the terms of the Deed of Cession to assure that the interests of the Fijian race are safeguarded and a guarantee given that Fiji is to be preserved and kept as a Fijian country for all time.”

The debate lasted over six hours—a re cord for the Council—but produced no thing of a practical character and in the end Mr. Ragg’s original motion was with drawn altogether and a watery substitute which merely reiterated the Deed of Ces sion, put in its place.

The new motion, which v/as carried un animously, read: “That in the opinion of this Council, the Government and non- Fijian inhabitants of the Colony stand ky !'J ie terms of the Deed of Cession and shall consider that document as a charter of the Fijian race.”

The debate, however, did provide mem bers with an opnortunity to indulge in some plain speaking which more closely resembled the practices of Australian and New Zealand politicians on the floor of their Houses, than the usual style of de bate in Fiji’s Legislative Council. rE European and Fijian members stated that the Fijians, upon whose behalf Fiji should be governed, were being swamped” and for this they blamed the Indians and the Government, which had not made proper provision for the Fijians, either in education or health or m providing official posts.

The Indian members denied that they had ever trespassed upon the rights of the Fijians or that, indeed, there was any need for Mr. Ragg’s motion, as there had never been any occasion when the Government had disregarded the terms of the Deed of Cession for the benefit of Indians or anyone else and to the detri ment of the Fijian race.

All members were agreed that the Fijians were being “swamped,” not be cause of a lower birth-rate than the In dians but because of a higher death rate due mainly to infant mortality and to the incidence of TB among the Fijian people.

No new answer to this racial problem was produced; the debate ended with the new motion nicely pruned to suit the consciences of all members, and the rather nebulous hope that with more and better education the Fijian would be able to work out his own salvation before it was too late.

Governors Address

IN his opening address on July 12, the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham devoted some time to the way in which Fiji, as a producer of primary goods, could help feed the hungry world of 1946.

Fiji plans to do this by increasing pro duction of sugar and copra for export by the production of more food for home consumption, and by curtailed imports of

commodities that can be put to better use in hungry Europe and Asia.

Both labour and shipping facilities had improved in the Colony, the Governor said, and it could be expected that Fiji would produce this year 25,000 tons of copra (4,000 tons more than in 1945) and 27,000 tons in 1947. These, however, were not “target” figures.

There was no limit to the target, as far as the Colony was concerned, and he appealed to everyone connected with the industry to do their utmost in a drive for more copra, in order that the unenviable lot of kinsfolk and others in Europe might be alleviated.

It is expected that Fiji will be entirely self-supporting in rice this year, and that there might be a small surplus for export.

The restrictions on the local consumption (that is, reserving the supply for the traditional rice-eaters) had saved 1.000 tons since its introduction in 1945, and it is intended to continue with this prohibi tion in the current year.

It is expected also to save the importa tion of 800 tons of wheaten flour annu ally, by the introduction of a smaller loaf —IS lb. in place of the former 2 lb. loaf.