Suva Airport

Landowners Will Have to Hand Over in 1950

OWNERS and occupiers of land required for the international airport at Suva Point, Fiji, will not be required to give up possession of the land until 1950.

An announcement, issued in Suva in August, said, “In December, 1948, the South Pacific Air Transport Council re commended that the international airport in Fiji should be located at Suva Point.

This recommendation was, of course, sub ject to acceptance by all the Governments concerned and this acceptance has now been given by all, provisionally. Final acceptance, involving actual directions for constructional work to commence will not be given until land and engineering surveys have been completed and a close estimate of cost prepared.

“A survey of the site is now being un dertaken, but ever since notice was given of intention to acquire the necessary land, the Government of Fiji has been con cerned with two points:—Firstly, to mini mise the disturbance to the owners and occupiers of the land in question; and secondly, to give as much opportunity as possible for them to find other areas in which to re-settle.

“It is now apparent that the survey and estimating period will not be completed until early in 1950, and owners and occu piers will not be required to yield up possession until then. Government will, however, be prepared to purchase and take possession of lands prior to that date, if the owners or occupiers so desire.

“Even after legal possession has been taken, it is likely that there will be an interval of some months before Govern ment requires to enter into actual occu pation of the bulk of the land in order

to enable work to be started. During this period persons to be displaced will be permitted to remain on the land if they so wish. In this way it is hoped that persons affected will be given the fullest opportunity of finding other areas in which to live.”

Major A. H. Diffey, of the Fiji Mili tary Forces, received the MBE (Military Division) in the Last Birthday Honours.