‘Dictatorship’ Suggestion

Fiji Governor’S Forthright Reply To

Constitutional Issue Clarified :: Committee To Report

Prom Our Own Correspondent

SUVA, September 27.

DENOUNCING the present system of government in Fiji as a “veiled dictatorship,” Mr. A. A. Ragg introduced a motion in the Legislative Council proposing a new constitution with, among other things, an unofficial elected majority in the council and Fijian representation on an elective basis.

Mr. Ragg, in the course of an 80-minute speech, accused anybody who was likely to oppose the motion of being a “re actionary.” He said that the Fijian Regulations—just overhauled, brought up to date and, on the motion of the Secre tary for Fijian Affairs (Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna) unanimously approved by the council half an hour before Mr. Ragg’s

speech—as “a code as reactionary and oppressive as has ever been devised by the mind of man,” and admitted that if ever the Indians secured nolitical dom ination in Fiji it would be the end of the Europeans as a political force, while the Fijians would be “thrown to the wolves.”

Mr. Ragg’s motion was enthusiastically hailed by the Indians, who, however, accused the mover of flinging mud at them and clamorously denied any thought of trying to dominate anyone or even of entertaining “political aspirations” at all.

But Sir Hugh Ragg, Mr. Maurice Scott and Mr. S. H. Wilson, with all five Fijian members, tore the motion (and almost included Mr. Ragg in the dismember ment) to shreds.

The only non-Indian to support the motion was the seconder. Mr. F. G.

Archibald.

The major sensation came when, at a point when the debate seemed likely to degenerate into a verbal brawl, the Gov ernor (Sir Brian IPreeston) with what he described as an impromptu expression of his views.

Previously an Indian member, Mr.

Vishnu Deo, had moved an amendment proposing that the whole question of Constitutional reform should be referred to a committee of unofficial members to make a report, and in the course of his statement the Governor supported this suggestion.

Governor’S Statement

I AM not going to deal at length with the speech of the honourable mover,” said His Excellency. “I have the greatest personal regard for him. I re spect his long career of service and I acknowledge the disinterestedness with which he personally approaches this ques tion.

“So it is neither kind nor. fortunately, is it necessary for me to expose from this chair the inconsistencies and in accuracies which were implied in his address.

“He has been dealt with faithfully by his unofficial colleagues and I have no wish to add to his discomfiture.

“But I cannot refrain from observing that at an early stage in his remarks he undertook to approach this question realistically.

“He then proceeded to paint a picture of the present state of constitutional affairs in Fiji which can be described only as fantastic. We were invited to believe that the present government of this country is sheer dictatorship; that the Governor, secure of the support of his embattled officials on the back benches, habitually enforces his will on the country without regard to the wishes of its in habitants, “We were further given to suppose that the Fijian people are groaning beneath the yoke of the chiefly system and is bitterly oppressed by a system of regulations to which the honourable member himself had given his assent half an hour previously.

“Now if this view so eloquently ex pressed had been based on the first-hand researches of the honourable member, if it was derived from long personal dis cussions conducted by him with the Fijians in their own language, or in the inland villages and the outlying islands, it would be entitled to the fullest respect and con sideration.

“If, on the other hand, it had no such solid basis I can only describe it as mis leading, if not indeed as mischievous.

“What in fact is the true position of the Governor under our present consti tutional framework? So far from being an absolute dictator, the Governor never takes a single decision of importance, whether in executive matters or in matters of legislation, without first seeking and

considering advice. He derives that ad vice from two sources, his officials and his unofficials.

“Now my Executive Council contains unofficial members of whom some are also members of this Council and I feel sure that if asked they would admit that whatever they say on these matters in Executive Council, although under the oath of secrecy, is taken into full account by the Governor before he makes what ever decision he does make on the matter in question.

“Under the new procedure for nomin ating unofficial members of the Executive Council the Governor will. I hope, have a greater assurance that the unofficials are such as are in close touch with the feel ing of the country.

“There will be at least a closer nexus, a closer contact between the views of the legislature and the views of the un official members expressed in the secrecy of the Executive Council.

“T CHALLENGE the supporters of the 1 motion to produce one single instance in the last five years where the Gov ernor of the day has used his official majority to over-ride the unanimous opposition of the unofficial members,” proceeded the Governor.

“If such a case can be found I feel confident that it must have been in re lation to that type of subject which under any scheme for constitutional reform and unofficial majorities is reserved to the Governor for the exercise of his guber natorial powers.

“The fact remains, none the less, that the constitution of Fiji as it exists to day is ultimately dependent on the existence of the official majority, 16 votes to 15, and that this might in certain circumstances be used to override the united views of the unofficial members.

“The official majority in my view is the greatest possible and most effective safeguard that any one of the three

peoples could hope for against being treated unjustly, shall we say, by a com bination of the other two races in league against it.

“It safeguards the Fijian absolutely against any attempt that might be made by a combination of the other two races to curtail or encroach upon the rights secured to the Fijian people by the Deed of Cession.

“It safeguards the European against the consequences of his numerical inferiority; it is the lifebuoy which will prevent him from being swamped by weight of num bers. It protects the Indian community from any possible combination of the European and Fijian which might act to their detriment.

“Until the process of assimilation be tween the interests, views and attitudes of the three races has preceded a good deal further than the stage it has reached up to the present, nothing will persuade me that it will be in the interests of the Colony for the Governor to be deprived of that ultimate power to hold the scales even.

“limiLE I have been here various ways YV have occurred to me in which our present constitution might be im proved, might be made more effective, more representative and might approach in some ways nearer our ideal of gov ernment of the people, by the people, for the people.

“For that reason, far from opposing the amendment which is still under de bate. speaking far the Government I say that I should welcome it.

“I am not prepared at this moment to go into it in detail, but, in principle, a

committee composed of unofficial repre sentatives of public opinion of the three races which takes evidence from outside persons or bodies, and which takes into account such racial interests as are hitherto entirely unrepresented in this Council could, I think, produce a very valuable and helpful report.

But I hope I have made it clear—l must repeat it again—that the Govern ment is not, and cannot be pledged in advance to accept the recommendations of such committee, and further that if the recommendations of such a committee included anything which tended to whittle away the existing safeguards for Euro peans, Fijians and Indians. I should feel it my duty to reject the advice and to advise the Secretary of State in London against it.”

At the conclusion of the debate, Mr.

Ragg withdrew his motion.

Mr. Vishnu Dec’s amendment then be came the motion and was carried. Three Europeans (Sir Hugh Ragg, Mr. Scott and Mr. Wilson) voted against it, as did two of the five Fijian members.

At the conclusion of the sitting, the 15 unofficial members held a meeting and submitted the names of two Europeans, two Fijian and two Indian members to serve on the committee, the Governor re serving the right to add other unofficial committeemen to represent communities (such as the Chinese) not included in the three main racial groups.

A concert party of 37 Cook Islanders will arrive in New Zealand shortly.

Their leader is Piri Macate. The party will visit Maori tribes and express the goodwill of their kinsmen in the Cook Islands. They will also give public per formances of Rarotongan traditional dancing and singing. Their visit will last several months.