In Defence Of The Fijians

Letter to the Editor

WE wish to reply to a letter by Mr. J.

Price, of Savusavu, Fiji, in your June issue, reflecting on labour conditions in Fiji, and in one paragraph describing the Fijians as “lazy, irresponsible, cheeky and dishonest.”

A coconut plantation is not a place where the different races go for psychoanalysis. When Mr. Price says, “Fijians are irresponsible, etc. . . what Fijians does he mean? Presumably, the unfortunate specimens who attracted him when he was faced with his labour problem, t why does he confine himself to his plantation as the source of information on which to base generalisations?

The Fijian in his native society is a imunal being, and had to work the way society dictated. This means that, in many cases, he would have to work in company with his fellow-men, in the communal interests. But, apart from this, times of work were self-imposed, and certain times of the year had to be every hour that there was light.

Less than two generations ago, it was common in most districts for him to work throughout the day on two meals. He had no foreman to boss him around, but everything on his own initiative and his own good; and that way of work was more than adequate to satisfy requirements in a subsistence nomy.

He is described as “lazy” and “will not work” only because he will not come to the European to work for money.

To-day, however he has to accept European conditions and standards, and the dual process of his adaptation has no ibt advanced far. At times, when he definitely got properly organised—as, instance, in the two World Wars —he proved to be capable of taking a stand alongside any other race in the world as as “sweat, blood, toil and tears” go.

The Fijian Labour Corps and Docks Cos. received high and sincere admiration from the US Army and from the British Government for their labour, both in Fiji and in the Solomons during and after the Pacific war.

We also have to pay tribute to our r edores —composed entirely of Fijians— the high-class work they do on all Fiji ts. Fiji has never seen anything of shipping congestion characteristic of >t world ports to-day: and the steve es themselves have no interest in wage mtes.

The Fijian is not irresponsible. During war, opportunity was forced on him, and he proved beyond question that he is capable of undertaking high responsibilities.

WE are surprised that the Fijians should be described as “cheeky and dishonest,” especially in comparison with the Indians! We are proud of our e and will always be proud of it, es pecially as we have no rogues, vagabonds I other such personalities who infest other societies. We are confident that 'one who can find a Fijian in any part the world will not be offended by cheek and dishonesty; and a Fijian means a -blooded Fijian, not just any person who happens to be domiciled in Fiji, n describing us as “cheeky” Mr. Price was probably thinking in terms of the r s when he could have picked up any ian and made him worship a man whose skin happened to be white; Mr.

Price is obviously not prepared to recognise the Fijian as a self-respecting individual with a high standard of morality.

We submit that the Fijians are not dishonest. We fail to see what exact meanmeaning attached to the word in Mr. Price’s itext, but it would appear that he just threw that word in to complete the sound

pattern without giving much thought to its meaning and implications.

IF your readers are interested to know the truth about the Fijians, we sug gest they read a book entitled, “The House on the Hill,” by Helen D. Cato, who has lived and worked amongst the Fijians for several years, and who is probably a better authority than Mr.

Price on the characteristics of the Fijians.

The following represent two of her opinions:— “It would be difficult to find any people who will work more cheerfully and willingly than Fijians.” (Page 25.) “The Fijians are the soul of hospitality and courtesy.” (Page 77.) We are, etc..

R. R. Nayacakalou.

J. B. Takala.

Auckland University College, 15/7/49.

A total of 542 Indian passengers sailed from Suva for India in the ship, “Orna,” on July 8. Some of them are travelling on free passage grants provided by the Im migration Ordinance under which they or their parents came to Fiji. A large pro portion, paying their own passages, intend to return to the Colony.