Set-Up
p. 40 · Read in the full issue
Fiji’S New Copra Board
Suva, Nov. 29.
FIJI’S statutory Copra Board will have the Director of Agriculture (Mr. C.
Harvey) as chairman. When the Bill to establish the board (with an un official majority) was before the Legis lative Council, the European members attempted to empty out the Director by way of an amendment, claiming that the members of the board should have the “democratic right” to elect a chair man.
The Indians (who have nothing to do with copra-production in Fiji) supported this.
The Fijians, however, who represent well over half the Colony’s copra industry, insisted on the Director, implying that they had more confidence in his inde pendence than they had in that of other possible chairmen.
“The Government”, said the Colonial Secretary (Mr. J. F. Nicoll), “has a duty to the Fijian producers, who are a
majority interest”.