Fijians

Pastoral Farming For Fijians Government Committee To Draw Up Plan

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Jan. 19.

LARGE-SCALE pastoral development of land by Fijian farmers, discussed spasmodically in the past, has been brought into the forefront of the Colony’s affairs by an announcement by the Act ing-Governor (Mr. J. F. Nicoll). It is stated that a committee has been set up to examine the whole question and to draw up a plan covering such points as the acquisition of suitable land, the amount of capital investment, the source of finance, management, returns, and allied matters.

At the November sitting of the Legis lative Council, the Fourth Fijian Member (Joeli K. Ravai) suggested that it might be possible to obtain assistance from the United Kingdom Colonial Develop ment Fund for a scheme to establish Fijian dairy-farmers.

Captain A. R. W. Robertson, who was then Acting Colonial Secretary, com mented later that after the many Euro pean and Indian demands for new ser vices and other forms of expenditure, this Fijian suggestion was extremely refresh ing. The Fijian member, he said, had not demanded that the taxpayers should pay up and hand over; he had simply sug gested a loan for the supply of ments and other essentials for Fijian farmers.

Joeli Ravai has been appointed a mem ber of the new committee; so has Mr. H.

Maurice Scott, who supported his proposal in the Legislative Council. The Economic Adviser (Mr. R. M. Taylor) is chairman, and the other members are the Secre tary for Fijian Affairs (Ratu Sir Laia Sukuna), the Director of Lands (Mr.

W. H. B. Buckhurst), the Senior Agri cultural Officer (Mr. B. E. V. Parham), Mr. H. King Irving (ex-general manager of the Colonial Sugar Refining Com pany, Fiji), Mr. J. H .H. MUlett and the Acting Accountant-General (Mr. W. E.

Donovan).