Fiji and the West Indies

Some Sriking Comparisons

UNHAPPY social and economic condi tions in the West Indies caused them to be investigated by a Royal Commission in 1938. The Commission recognised the pressing need for large expenditure on social services and de velopment and recommended the estab lishment, for this purpose, of a West Indian Welfare Fund to be financed by an annual grant of £1,000,000 from the Imperial Exchequer for a period of 20 years and of a special organisation to administer this fund under the charge of a Comptroller.

Sir Frank Stockdale, KCMG, CBE, who reported on agriculture in Fiji in 1937, was appointed to this position.

Bearing in mind that the Royal Com mission found that “most of the main social and economic defects of the West Indies have, in broad outline, been knowru and deplored for many years, and have been the subject of numerous enquiries,”

Sir Frank Stockdale’s latest report con tains many striking statements which could just as easily have been made of Fiji. It is not suggested that Fiji’s social and economic conditions are com pareable with those of the West Indies but many of the observations are re markably apposite to this Colony and make interesting reading.

THE most illustrative references are set out below, without comment.

For “West Indies” “Fiji” can be substituted: General Background. —The main prob lems in the West Indies, despite the differing conditions in the several colonies, centre around — (iii) the wastage which has taken place of natural resources; (iv) the limitation of the acreage of land suitable for agriculture; (vi) poor housing and sanitation; (viii) an educational system in need of overhaul; (ix) the lack of public appreciation of the fact that the area cannot support social standards modelled on those of wealthier com munities and that a full life and good companionship can be built up in accord with the general economy of the area; (x) a general need for improvements and developments in local gov ernment and community acti vities.

Industry & Tourists. —lncreased local industrial development must be contem plated and efforts made to encourage a greatly expanded tourist trade. . .

The tourist trade is capable of very greatly increased expansion, and this should provide both additional employ ment and wealth.

Land. —Slowly but surely it is becoming recognised throughout the West Indies that the chief asset is the land, and that measures must be taken to save it from destructive processes, to rehabilitate certain areas and to intensify production methods generally if the increasing populations are to find their livelihood from it. . . .It is generally agreed that greatly improved and more experienced advisory and educational services are necessary for the farmers, both large and small.

Education. —There is no doubt that there is a keen desire throughout the West Indies that the educational system should be remodelled and that provision should be made for adequate accom modation and equipment in the schools. .

The problem (of providing the neces

sary funds) is of the simple condition of human arrangements that he who would be master in his own house must be able to meet his bills.

Economic. —War conditions have aggravated deficiencies and created difficulties. . . .More money has been in circulation, but the standard of living has, over the whole area, not advanced very materially, . . . The tendency has been for the values of assets such as land and houses to rise considerably and in a few places there has been some speculation in land and house property. . . .

The aim of economic policy in the West Indies should be directed towards the raising of the standard of living of the mass of the people.

Cost of Living. —Cost of living has increased but most of the cost-of-living indexes in the West Indies are in varying degrees and in different respects, defective. They are not comparable one with another. Rates of salaries and wages, including war bonuses, have, however,

risen and most Governments have in creased the salaries and wages of their officials and employees, Agriculture. —The evidence on the whole seems to show that when rates of pay are raised in agriculture, workers tend to do less x work rather than more, They seem to want to work for shorter periods or to be content with a certain weekly amount of money, enough to cover their needs at their accustomed low plane of living, and to do only enough work to earn that amount, Production. —lt should not be over looked that the West Indies are not cheap producers. The cost of getting a job done is frequently much higher, in con sequence of the lower scale of output per unit of time, than it is in England. . . .An improved standard of living in the West Indies and general economic security can only be achieved if efficiency of production is striven for consistently, Administration. Special reference should be made to the general shortage

of experienced and skilled officers in many of the departments of the West Indian Governments and to the paucity of fully trained staff throughout.

Philosophy of Living. —Most people in moist, hot, tropical climates do not want to work very energetically for long hours: they seem to prefer to be satisfied with a lower standard of living and more leisure and they would, it appears, rather take life easily than add to their material comforts.

The appointment of Mr. B. E. V.

Parham as senior Agricultural Officer in the Department of Agriculture was gaz etted early in August.