Hungry Natives In Fiji

The Cost of Hospitality

Letter to the Editor IT will come as a surprise to many who imagine that the Fijian natives in the copra districts, as a result of the price of copra, are rolling in wealth and living in the lap of luxury, that this is far from the case. Here is a true pic ture of conditions in the copra district of Yasawa, North-Western Fiji.

Following on three hurricanes early this year there came an exceptionally dry season and what the hurricanes did not destroy the dry season killed off. The drought destroyed food crops and made it impossible to plant new crops for many months. For the last few months the natives have been living on imported food and Fiji-grown rice.

During the best copra months, they have got by but with the reduced copra output of the latter months, their plight can only be termed piteous.

Some months back, assistance was sought from the local representative of the Native Affairs Department, and al though it was agreed to at the time, noth ing has yet been done and nothing will be done, although the money to be used for the relief was from a fund built up by deductions from the natives’ own copra money.

With the lack of means to purchase imported food, the natives now are sub sisting almost entirely on wild yams, which are a very precarious source of food supply, at the best.

To further their distress, the official copra restrictions are making it very dif ficult to sell the little copra that is avail able.

Only those who have had any associa tion with native affairs in Fiji at the present time can know what a farce the District Councils represent. With the in creased power of the district headmen, these Councils are called with monotonous frequency, with their oceans of words and subsequent lack of results. Unfortunately, these farces are just another menace to the food problem. Wherever, through the efforts of the villagers, a little food is be ginning to grow, the district headman directs the Council to be held there, and there are empty stomachs for the vil lagers.

The Governor paid a visit to the Yasa wa Group on his way to Rotuma. Little did he know what it cost the natives to prepare a reception—but then again it is not his job to know. From the District Commissioner to the District Nurse, all expect to be treated right royally in the villages, and few know, or care what sacrifices are made at the present period to keep up the tradition.

With TB in every village, one wonders just how much malnutrition will accel erate the extermination of this race.

I am, etc.,

Voice In Wilderness.

Lautoka, 14/10/50.

Mr. A. W. Small a well-known mem ber of the public service of Fiji—he was stationed last in Vanua Levu —retired a few months ago, and is now a resident of St. Heliers Bay, one of the most charming of Auckland’s waterside suburbs.

Mr. Bob Young, one of the most useful executive officials of the Medical Depart ment of New Guinea, arrived in Sydney in November on long leave. He and his. wife are residing, at present, at Windsor,

Nsw.