Fiji Indians Suspect Pocket-picking
p. 59 · Read in the full issue
"Bound-To-Happen"
Department
From Our Own Correspondent
Suva, May 19.
rpHE Indian cane-farmers in Fiji (or JL possibly their leaders) have become worried over the idea that the Gov ernment of Fiji or the British Govern ment is doing them out of something.
The Fiji Government has therefore been making long and patient explanations about the sugar price windfall from the British Ministry of Food which came into effect some time back.
The explanation is that, when handing out an increase of £5/5/- (Fijian) a ton
for cane, the Ministry stipulated that £l/15/- of the increase was to go into a price stabilisation fund to cushion the oppressed growers in the event of a future slump. Such high economics how ever, is beyond the Indians to understand.
It would have been much better all round if the Ministry had simply pocketed the £l/15/- and produced it with suitable statements about its own generosity when the slump comes.
As it is, harassed officialdom in Suva is still trying to persuade the Indians that the £l/15/- has not really been filched from the pockets of the oppressed.