High Costs In Fiji

rE high cost of European living, heavy building costs, and the diffi culty of obtaining adequate house service were three things that impressed Mr. J. R. Hawcridge, a New Zealand en gineer, on a recent visit to Fiji.

Mr. Hawcridge said that repercussions of the war and of the American occupa tion were being keenly felt by those who wanted labour. Native domestic servants were almost as fickle in their service as were servants in the Dominions. Indian cooks were difficult to retain, even at double pre-war wages, and it was strange to see laundry work being done in Euro pean households instead pf being sent out to the inevitable dhobi boys as be fore, when personal laundry was done on a contract basis of 10/- a month.

“To-day’s slogan is piece-work only, ’ he said.

After a suspension of five years due to the war, the oldest sports club of Apia, the Ania Rifle Club, has been revived due mainly to the efforts of Mr. D. R. Eden, who is general manager of Reparation Estates. His call to start the activities of the 25 year old club was enthusiastically responded to by the many followers of the sport. At a general meeting in Nov ember a new executive was elected.

Mr D R. Eden was re-elected president; Mr A B. Stewart, secretary and treas urer; and Messrs. A. M. Gurau, A P.

King F I. Pritchard and E. L. Ruland members of the committee; while Inspec tor M. McLeod was elected Captain of the Club. The rifle range at Vaivase Plantation, which was used during the war by American occupation forces and the Local Defence Force, is in splendid condition and was opened by the Admin istrator. Colonel F. W. Voelcker, Patron of the Club, on Sunday, November 30.

Mr. Colin A. Allen, Western District Commissioner in the Solomon Islands, arrived in Auckland recently on long leave. He is visiting his home before pro ceeding to Cambridge University, for a post-graduate course—he has an anthro pological-cum-cultural study in mind.