Co-operatives
p. 53 · Read in the full issue
Some Clash With Old Fiji Practices
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Suva, Aug. 18.
READ in conjunction with the review of co-operative societies activities in New Guinea pub lished in July PIM, the latest re port of the Registrar of Co-oper ative Societies in Fiji (for year 1951) would seem to indicate that progress is somewhat slower and less satisfactory.
The Registrar, Mr, C. Harvey, notes that “in some localities there has arisen an actual, though prob ably unnecessary, conflict between the principles and practice of formal ‘Co-operation’ and those traditional in the Fijian social and political organisation.”
“The patriarchal and largely authoritarian Fiji organisation does not only regulate the social and political life of Fijian villagers,” says the report; “it impinges on their economic life also, and the Fijian is thus not generally accustomed to order his ... activities in more or less water-tight compart ments, as happens in more developed communities.
“Consequently there has been a tendency for many Fijians to re gard co-operative societies as an alternative way of life to the com munal village system. ... It is not, therefore, surprising that some local Fijian administrative officials have regarded the formation of societies with suspicion, as being at tempts to set up a rival system of village government, with conflicting loyalties, and this has sometimes re sulted in active opposition. More over, the democratic principle in co-operation and the selective element—i.e., the restriction of membership to those with particular interests, who are prepared to give active support, irrespective of social status—may not be readily assimilable by a closely-knit Fijian village community,” J res Pit °f this attitude was the de-registration of three societies and abandonment of work on eight Sn') 1 er iM e^ ryo g £?. u P s in the Western and Northern Divisions. t^ ai ?L? f the 2 ? societi es listed in the 1951 report were, however especially in the southern Division where the people are somewhat less conservative and more in touch with commerce, and ls doubt that the success ?/ these will, in the long run, have its effect throughout the Colony.
Barry Stevenson, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Stevenson, well known m Ba and Suva, Fiji, has been commissioned as a 2nd lieu lni Fi:ii Art illery follow ing completion of a training course S;t.. Sandhurst. He will return to Fiji from the UK next year.