"Back to the Koro"

Fijian Clerks Cannot Afford To Live in Suva

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Apr. 28

SIDELIGHT on the Fijian standard of living in Suva: Mr. E. A. Crane, a master at the Lelean Memorial School in an article in the Methodist Missionary Review, describes how a young Fijian walks out to the school from Suva to pay his brothers school fees. This vouth paid all the younger boy’s fees—out of about £7 a month earned as a junior clerk.

This is by no means an extreme case.

Yet Fijian clerks aie expected to dress decently and “keep up appearances”.

With the cost of bare living at least as high as in Australian cities, it is re markable that cases of minor embezzle ment by Fijians in town positions of trust are rare to the point of non-exis tence.

Another Fijian clerk with as good an education as is possible for an unaided Fijian, an excellent war record and a Government job, not long ago took him self. his wife and their four children back to the koro (village) for the sound reason that he could not make ends meet on his salary.

The main drain on his salary was the extortionate rent which an Indian land lord, one of the many who find loopholes in the well-perforated rent-control regula tions. charged for a hovel. The desperate housing shortage has been a godsend to slum landlords.

“Back to the koro” is now the trend and it will probably intensify if conditions continue to worsen. From one point of view it would be an admirable develop ment, but it would mean the loss of alert, capable Fijians from posts that would most likely go to some of the thousands of aggressive young Indians who like hawks are watching for white-collar jobs.

The Vicar Apostolic of Tahiti, Mon seiarneur Paul Maze, Bishop of Ascalon, returned to Tahiti on March 4. 1947, after several months' sojourn in Rome, where he had audience with the Pope.

A service of thanksgiving was celebrated at the Cathedral for his safe return to his diocese.