How Fijians Pay Their

Education Costs

Suva, Dec. 6.

rE total, number of pupils in Fijian schools in 1947 was 25,800, while the Indian total was 17,792, states the annual report of the Education Depart ment. The total net expenditure on Fijian education was £76,157 and that on Indian education was £70,662.

The report adds, however, that while the Fijians still show a greater number in attendance at school, the standard at Fijian schools is generally lower than at Indian schools.”

In 1947 the Fijians contributed £21,623 themselves, being 44 per cent, of the total Fijian Provincial expenditure.

In 1937 the total direct cost of education to the Fijians was only £6,560, or 18 per cent, of provincial expenditure.

Both totals are exclusive of substantial funds raised by the Fijians by means of levies, bazaars and personal services.

Approximately 16,000 Fijian taxpayers have a total income of £1,100,000, while 10,000 receive only £llO,OOO a year. It is the 10,000, who have ho assured market for their product, who are hardest hit by the education levy. The report con tinues: “It is this minority who have to leave their homes for two months or more every year to earn money for the payment of the educational assessment and rate”.

These facts explain a firm hostility (European, not Fijian) to any further concessions to the ceaseless Indian de mand for heavily increased Government expenditure on Indian schools—particu larly in view of the Indian capacity for dodging taxes of any sort.