Nz Military In Fiji

Planter’s Criticism Is Resented

Letter to the Editor I HAVE just seen, in the November issue of your magazine, the article giving the opinions of Mr. James S. K. B.

Borron on taxation in Fiji. With part of that letter I am vitally concerned, and I would request space to bring to Mr.

Borron’s notice a few facts and to refute a gratuitous insult to a country for which Fiji has much to thank.

In the statement appears the sentence: “The upkeep of local military forces stationed in Viti Levu only is unnecessary and is a pure waste of money and man power.”

It is unnecessary to go into a discus sion of strategy with Mr. Borron. It should be sufficiently clear that the de cision was not taken in Fiji, but by ser vice chiefs and politicians who are a little more informed of world affairs than a plantation-owner on the island of Mago in the Lau Group.

It may also be of interest to him to know that the people who made those decisions were not in any way concerned with hostile Indians or any other Indians.

They were concerned with British Com monwealth defence and how a Colony which expects to benefit from that defence may play a part.

It is very comforting to sit down and say that one’s best effort is to produce food, and to leave someone else to put up with the discomforts and dangers of the battle-front. The despised New Zea land could also have taken that viewpoint in the last war, as she is a food-producing country; but it is perhaps as well that she didn’t. When no less a person than Winston Churchill gives praise for New Zealand’s part I think the readers of PIM will be sufficiently intelligent to give the views of Mr. Borron their relevant im portance.

One can’t help thinking that his views on New Zealanders are coloured by the fact that his house in Suva was occupied by them during the war. Perhaps if he could take time for a few minutes to study some of the history of the war, he would find that these “undignified and inefficient personnel” were not so re garded by most of the rest of the world outside Mago.

With his remarks about the Fijians be ing great fighters and a great race, I entirely agree. But, once again, let me point out that the units of Fiji Military Forces, which fought so well in the Solo mons, were mainly commanded by New Zealand officers. That hardly fits in with his statement that the Fijians and New Zealanders have nothing in common.

Mr. Borron has made certain state ments about training. I desire to chal lenge him to produce any evidence of “ditch-digging, barbed-wire entangle ments, route marches and flag-waving reminiscent of Boer War days.” Parades— yes—Cession Day and Remembrance Day.

Perhaps if he could spare a few moments of his valuable time when he next comes to Suva he might be able to see some of the training for himself.

The rest of the statement is outside my province, but I cannot refrain from re minding the readers of PIM that if it had not been for the Royal New Zealand Air Force stationed at Laucala Bay, relief measures in the Lau Group after the hurricane, which so nearly ruined Mr, Borron apparently, would not have been possible so quickly. It is poor thanks to the crews and ground staff to read that it is hoped New Zealand will send “more dignified and efficient personnel.” One

hopes that Mr. Borron never has cause to request assistance in urgent sickness such as the RNZAF has several times carried out. It may be difficult to find a crew who would be prepared to assist him after his remarks about New Zea landers in Fiji.

Incidentally, as a matter of figures, to quadruple the Police as he suggests will cost at least another £200,000. Defence expenditure, if ignored, will only save £lOO,OOO, leaving a further £lOO,OOO to be found by taxation.

I am, etc.,

C. A. Pleasants,

Colonel.

Commander, Fiji Military Forces.

Suva, 13/12/49.

Editorial Note: As Mr. Borron lives in an isolated place, and cannot immediately defend himself, it perhaps is fair to say here that his article, as published, was a summary of a much longer manuscript.

We believe that we correctly reported Mr.

Borron’s statements; but it is possible that, in the condensation, some qualify ing phrases were lost.

The death occurred in Suva on Decem ber 1 of Mr. Charles Maberley, who has for just over a year been Marine Superin tendent for South Sea Marine Products Ltd.