Mixed Blood In Fiji

Native Student Discusses A Very Difficult Problem

Letter to the Editor RACIAL discrimination in Fiji seems to be the most pressing problem for the future and as a solution I suggest the abolition of what might be called racial mongrelisation.

To-day, the three major communities of Fiji are the Fijians, Europeans and Indians and which community is to be come dominant is largely dependent upon racial strength.

The Fijian is still too weak, both cul turally and economically, and to overcome this they must be trained to make the best use of their lands, and also be made to understand what national spirit and idealism really mean. They will then appreciate the true importance of popu lating their country and the ugliness of racial segregation.

People of mixed blood, to-day, make up a large number of the Colony’s popu lation and their future is yet to be de termined. The Fijian should realise that by marrying outside his own community he or she not only increases the half caste population but “gives away” a good many numbers from what should be a 100 per cent, pure Fijian community.

“Mongrelisation” is an ugly name, simply because it implies impurity of breeding— but in Fiji to-day the problem is not only a racial one but has, as well be come a matter of politics.

I should like to see my own people increase in numbers, not as distin guished mixed-bloods, but as full Fijians.

Seventy years ago, Fijian chiefs put themselves under the protection of the Great Queen and, in return, their land was secured to them for all time. How ever, if the mating of people of different blood is permitted to go on unchecked in years to come, who will be the brave native to claim his father’s right in 500 years’ time?

The Indians, who are blamed for many of Fiji’s troubles, cannot, however, be blamed for the mixed-blood problem, They realise that caste and blood go to gether and have thus indirectly been the saviours of the Fijian race. What would have happened to the Fijians if the Hindu faith had permitted indiscriminate in rer-marriage?

To make the Fijians strong they must increase their own numbers, at the same time reviving their own traditions and cultures and a spirit of nationalistic idealism. An investigation into the Fijian life of to-day would show that the mixed-blood population is a menace to the way of pure Fijian life even the Fijian language has deteriorated at their hands.

Measures should be taken, by the Legis lative Council of Fiji, if necessary to check intermarriage of Fijians with other people, otherwise the Colony will in time become a land of mixed-bloods, as other Pacific islands have become already.

A special court of the Colony should be formed to deal with these unfortunate people and, if any fund is required to maintain it, perhaps the people of mixed blood could contribute towards it in the form of a tax. In my opinion, any mis cegenation is criminal and should be dealt with harshly and, if possible, the people concerned should be sent away from the Colony.

This would be for the good of my people; it would make them respect and protect their blood and make them realise that an increase in their numbers would mean strength. Above all, purity of blood brings national pride and through it. national unity. The term “Fijians” would then stand for the indigenous natives of

Fiji and not for the thousands of hybrid people in the Colony, I am, etc.,

E. Raivoka.

Agricultural High School & College,

Lawes, Queensland.

Editorial Note

IT is interesting and stimulating to sec that an educated Fijian can write so well and thoughtfully on a subject of such complexity and delicacy. We are happy to give space to his letter, although we may not agree with all his conclusions, There is a half-caste problem in the South Pacific, but it is not as difficult as some suggest. There are so many mixed

blood communities in the Islands that, many years ago, at the suggestion of a Fijian school-master, the “PIM” used the word “Euronesian” to describe them, and this has been generally accepted.

Our correspondent, like some others,

takes the view that the Euronesian is an undesirable person, and he would formulate policy accordingly. But.this is wrong, There are in the South Pacific very many thousands of Euronesians who usually are in every way excellent citizens intelligent, industrious and socially attractive. Where the Euronesian community is big enough, they- usually inter-marry, and they have a definite place in their country. All through the South Seas, there are Euronesian women, who as the

wives of leading citizens, quite naturally take a leading place in the community.

In the minds of some people, the Euro nesian community may represent a head ache (see article elsewhere in this issue concerning the position of “local-born” in Samoa); but the Euronesian communities have a place and a status in the South Pacific, and they must be accepted. Per haps the European-Polynesian unions which produced children of mixed-blood were socially unwise; but only the very foolish would expect people to refrain from such unions on that account. Also, it would be silly, as well as impracticable, to punish the offspring of such unions by imposing social and industrial handi caps upon them. Far better to accept the Euronesian communities as has been done this last half-century as a very happy and colourful and attractive sec tion of life in the South Seas.

We agree entirely with our correspon dent that racial puritv is a thing emi nently desirable, and all Administrations should strive for it. But that does not mean that people of mixed blood are un desirable anyone who tries to argue that way will find himself in holts with science and with experience.

Man-made laws do not favour mixed unions. But natural law seems to offer no barrier whatever in fact, the age old tendency, throughout human history, has been towards what we call miscegena tion. towards an amalgamation of races; and our records, as far back as we can go, are full of examples of racial union— some so complete that certain races have disappeared entirely.

Mr. Elliot BoUand, father of Mr. W. S.

Bolland (Thursday Island), passed away recently at his home in East Brisbane.

The late Mr. Bolland was known through out Australia for his scale models of famous engineering projects.