Suva Proclaimed

A City

Area’s Population 40,000

Suva, Oct. 14.

1171 TH a flourish of trumpets ▼ t blown by Fijian soldiers in scarlet tunics and white sulus, and with the similarly dressed men of the Regimental Depot Band of the Fiji Infantry Regiment adding to the note of pageantry, Suva was declared a city on October 7.

The Governor (Sir Ronald Garvey) signed the proclamation on a dais m front of the decorated Town Hall, watched by civil, military and church leaders, and by about 10,000 Europeans, Indians, Fijians and Chinese.

Suva people generally were in terested, but not enthusiastic. The anly strong outburst of applause 3ame when the Mayor (Mr. D. M N McFarlane), replying to a short address by the Governor, linked me proclamation with the 79th anniversary of the signing of the Deed of Cession. Europeans, and some Indians, let themselves go a ittle when the Mayor said: ‘‘That day of celebration (Oc ober 10) every year brings sigmflc intly to our hearts and minds the pirit of the Deed of Cession, and nore strongly do we appreciate the oyalty and splendid example of iur Fijians, whose ancestors ceded hese islands to the Crown.”

Outlining the history of Suva mce Governor Sir William des r °eux proclaimed it a town in 1881 Ir. McFarlane referred to the resence on the dais of Mr. “Tavua” ohnson, who was a member of the uva Town Board under Mr. Gabriel larks as long ago as 1908.

Associating Suva’s new status with the dignity of the ancient cities of the United Kingdom, the Governor said that, although the capital of Fiji could not yet claim to rank with the great cities of the world in importance, “it can, if it will, in dignity hold a place worthy of an ancient honour; and it can now hold its head higher among our Pacific communities.”

The proclamation, made in the name of the Queen, was read by the Town Clerk (Mr. R. Balfour).

It referred specifically to the point that Suva now has a population of not less than 20,000.” At the moment, the fast-increasing popula tion is about 30,000 in the city area .

of Suva Peninsula, but the total number who are well within the orbit of the capital’s daily life is at least 40,000.

Indians in Unworthy Role

The last previous meeting of the Suva Town Council, held on Oc tober 6, was boycotted by the five Indian members who walked out on September 22. All five, however, at tended the proclamation ceremony next day.

At the meeting on October 8, the seven remaining members (five Europeans, one Indian and one Chinese) unanimously carried a resolution which “unequivocally aflirmed that his Worship the Mayor did not use the epithet of ‘fool’ or

‘fools’ : bn September 22.” (The Mayof had previously made a similar denial in a statement to the press). ...

When moving the resolution, Mr.

W. G. Johnson said that the wide publicity being given to an incorrect statement by the councillors who walked out, if not contradicted un equivocally, “might permit such an incorrect report being used with sinister motives in certain parts of the world where the press and people had little regard for the truth.” He added: “I am sorry that those councillors who withdrew have not shown a greater sense of responsibility and understanding.”

The public at large, including a considerable number of Indians, are heartily sick of the whole storm in a teacup. The only question that exercises the minds of anyone ex cept the five councillors (who apparently still cling to the idea that the “dictatorial” Mayor in sulted them and the whole Indian community) is what, if anything, is behind the rumpus.

Some people on the sideline be lieve, rightly or wrongly, that the “cause” could be an attempt to get rid of the present Mayor and elect an Indian Mayor of Suva before the Royal visit in December.

To date, the net result of the uproar has been an increase in the prestige of Mr. McFarlane among responsible people of all races. His

statement to the press in reply to a string of extraordinary “allega tions” was a model of patient mod eration.