The Future Use Of Fiji Lands

Issues Which May Affect Indian-Native Relationships

From Our Own Correspondent

SUVA, Sept. 29. iSa further step in the long-drawn-out \ struggle between the European- Fijian communities, on the one side, nd the Indian community, on the other, i relation to the future control of Fiji nds, the Native Land Trust Board has iblished details of the first areas which :e to be reserved for the exclusive use f the Fijian owners. These areas are in le Yasawa Group, and in the Lautoka a district, between Vatia Wharf and Lida Point.

This first reservation marks the start the final phase of the huge task carried it by a Commission headed by the Se ctary for Fijian Affairs (Ratu Sir Lala ikuna) with the object of reserving ,ose parts of their own country which e Fijian people require for their present id future needs.

This development has grown out of the Element of Indians in Fiji, and the phe menal increase in the Indian population recent decades. In the same period, e decrease in the Fijian native popula m has been halted, and turned into a ;ady and satisfactory natural increase, inevitably, the point was reached—some or 15 years ago—when the Indians’ de mds for land came into conflict with lat the British rulers of Fiji believe to the necessary and proper provision of id for the native Fijians.

Considerable areas of land, not then re ired by the Fijians, had been leased to ! Indians, and improved by the Indians; d, naturally, the Indians sought an ir rocable title over those lands. Inability obtain such titles caused strong feeling

among the Indians. To find, for the issue a basis of fundamental justice, the British had to go back into history.

The Fijians, as the original inhabitants were entitled to the lands of Fiji. That was recognised by the British when they became party to the Deed of Cession, in 1874. Ever since, they have regarded themselves as trustees for the care of the natives’ lands.

The arrival and settlement of the Indians belong to the post-Cession period.

The facts that the Indians have chosen to settle in Fiji, and to breed at a rate that is almost without precedent, give them no pre-emptive right to Fijian lands.

Whatever claim the Indians may properly make to Fiji lands can be taken care of only after the claims of the Fijians, both present and prospective, have been pro vided for.

The Indian leaders contest this argu ment very bitterly; but they cannot escape the fact that the British standpoint is based on fundamental justice.

When the discussions came to a head.

in the ’thirties, the British were unable to lay down any procedure, because it was then difficult to say (a) what were the present and future needs of the Fijians (b) what lands were actually available to meet those needs and (c) what really were the rights of the Indian lessees. The necessary inquiry was placed about 1940 in the hands of a Commission headed by Sir Lala Sukuna and—with serious interruption caused by the 1942-45 war operations—it has been going on ever since. The importance of the Commis sion’s report and recommendations, to the future of Fiji, cannot be exaggerated.

The first result is the demarcation of Fijian land reserves. The Indians are strongly opposed to the general plan; and, as time goes on, much more will be heard of it. But, so far as the British- Fiji administration is concerned, the facts have been ascertained, a policy has been framed, and a plan has been put into operation. That plan will not be aban doned, without very good reason.

The future use of Fiji lands is the key to the future of Fiji. In that respect, each community there now knows exactly where it stands.

OF the area that is now set aside in these first reservations, 1,687 acres are at present leased. Seventy-three of the leases, or parts of leases, totalling 294 acres, will expire before the end of 1950. The remainder will expire at various times in the following 50 years, and the present lessees will be required to vacate the land only as the leases ex pire.

In some cases the area affected is only a small portion of a lease, the rest of the lease being outside the reserved areas.

The foregoing refers to the Yasawas- Northwest area. Inquiries regarding each land-owning group in the Colony are pro ceeding.

As investigations are completed in each area, the pieces of land necessary to meet the Fijian owners’ requirements in full, both now and in the foreseeable future, will be proclaimed as native reserves.

Reserved land can be leased or other wise disposed of by the owners only to other Fijians, and then only with the consent of the Native Land Trust Board.

It is on the continued ownership of, and access to, land on which to live and on which to grow food and fuel and house building material and crops for marketing that their happiness and progress primarily depend.

Help For Lessees

MANY of those lessees who will be re quired when their leases expire to move from land which is included in the Native Reserves will wish to find other land outside the reserves.

A committee has been appointed in the Western District with the following terms of reference;—

(1) To assist persons displaced from Native Reserves to find new accommoda tion outside the Native Reserves. (2) To submit for consideration bv a Central Committee proposals for making available for settlement new areas outside the Reserves.

The Central Committee will be ap pointed shortly and committees will be appointed in due course in the Northern and Eastern Districts.

The District Commissioner Western is chairman of the committee for the Wes tern District, and the remaining members of the committee are the District En gineer Lautoka, Mr. C. L. Langdale, Mr.

Tulsi Ram Sharma, Lautoka, Mr. C. E.

Whitehead, Roko Tui Nadroga and Navosa and Mr. E. A. Potts.