Fijian Leader Who Is

Not A Chief

Joeli K. Ravai. MLC, On His Way To Britain

JOELI K. RAVAI, Roko Tui Tailevu and one of the five Fijian members of the Legislative Council, passed through Australia in June en route to Great Britain, where he will be the guest of the British Council.

He will stay in Britain until October and will take short university courses in the English language, life and insti tutions. Looking much younger taan his 50 years, J. K. Ravai —who, not possess ing the chiefly title of Ratu, is not even “Mr.” until he departs from Fiji—has had a notable career. He is the first non- Ratu outside the Fijian chiefly hierarchy to win the high appointment of Roko Tui (the high chief of a Fijian Province), and as Roko Tui Tailevu he takes his place in the Council of Chiefs.

Born in 'Tailevu, he was educated in New Zealand and for many years was an assistant master at Queen Victoria School. During the war he was trans ferred to the Labour Department until in 1946, he was appointed head of his province.

In February, 1947, he became a mem ber of the Legislative Council, where his keen observation and condensed speeches —usually terse and effective statements of fact—won him immediate respect.

Members of the R.S.L. Dramatic Club Rabaul, are beginning rehearsals for the production of “A Cuckoo in the Nest,” a three-act play by Ben Travers. The play is expected to be ready for the public about the middle of August.