High And Higher Hcl In

Fiji

Suva, Jan. 25.

'FUJI has two cost-of-living indices, -T for Europeans and for Indians.

There is none for the Fijians—be cause, in the official view, all Fijians live in communal villages where changes in the cost of necessities are not readily felt.

This is one of Fiji’s minor in justices, if only because thousands of Fijian urban workers belong to neither index.

As both indices have gone to new peaks since New Year, a moderate Increase in pay is required for a limited number of workers, includ ing Public Works and CSR Co. em ployees. An increase for all civil servants has been a certainty for some time; and that, in due course, means increases in many places out side the service. Finally, electricity charges have been increased at Suva, so that prices of locally-made products may rise, just as the prices of most imports go up with great persistence.

There is some agitation in Suva for the reimposition of price con trol on market charges for many locally-grown foodstuffs. Both Stiva and Lautoka town authorities have pointed out that price-control is outside their jurisdiction. Lautoka council has asked the local Chamber of Commerce to look into things

with the idea of possible representa tions to the Government.

When price control was abolished In 1950 the Government promised that if there were any exploitation of the public, back would go con trol. Since then there have been repeated wails from sections of the public; and there has now been a sharp increase in 4 the agitation be

cause of the high charges by vendoic at the public markets for local pro' duce which cannot be called scaro' by any standard.

The marriage took place in Mels bourne in December of Miss Rose; mary Helen Thomas to Mr. Alista;i Davidson, son of Mr. and Mrs. O L. Davidson of Lautoka, Fiji.