Malaya Battalion

Fijians to Provide Mats For Malaya Battalion

SUVA, August 18 THE Fijian people have been asked to provide two new sleeping mats for each of the Fijian soldiers in Malaya. This means a total of nearly 1,800 mats, and anyone who has seen the work that goes into the {Collection of material, preparation and weaving of a Fijian sleeping-mat, knows what this order will entail for Fijian women in the villages.

The order has brought up again the hotly-debated question of why the burden of the Malaya expedi tion should be carried by the Fijians exclusively. They have not only provided the men, but they continue to provide most of the essential inci dentals. Other races in Fiji do not even contribute to the basic cost of what is described as a matter of Imperial defence. Most of that bill is met by the United Kingdom.

It would be fairer, in the Empire sense, if the cost of sending and maintaining the Fijian battalion were met by increased taxation on Euro peans and Asiatics in Fiji. But if that were the case there might not be any Fijian battalion in Malaya.

When the battalion went away a handful of European firms and in dividuals made modest contributions to canteen funds. Since then, mighty little, if anything, has been done apart from the Rabi Bana bans’ generous gift of £1,500.

Fijian mats do not last long in Malaya, and that is why the new consignment is required. But why should the non-Fijians not raise a fund to buy more serviceable sleeping-equipment—especially at a time when many Fijian villagers in eastern Viti Levu are still hard pressed as a result of the January hurricane?