The Fijian?

How Can We Help

andicap of Ancient System In Modern World

AN old, highly-esteemed resident of Fiji, in the course of a private letter to the Editor of PIM, makes some incisive com ments upon the problem of how to help the native Fijians to meet the difficulties of over-population.

It was not written for publication; 'lut some parts are published as i helpful contribution to an in teresting discussion. ro my mind (writes our corre mdent) it boils down to the old ring that you cannot help people o won’t help themselves.

't is impossible to form an inion about the Fijian and his iblems without having lived for my years among them. A Fijian as good or as bad as the leader p he receives.

Jothing is more irksome to him n to have to make a decision and nd by it. It is so much easier slip in behind the multitude, and along with it. And the direction y will go depends entirely on the n in front. ’ormerly, there were European trict Commissioners, who were tioned in one place long enough let a working knowledge of their pie. With this authority on the v way of life, right among them, irts to send them in the right action were understood and re ’ded; and moves in the wrong action were swiftly corrected, row, the official, coming round asionally and always duly an nced by wireless, is shorn of 5t of his authority; while the ive official, now endowed with bority, has a hard struggle to do ood job, battling without moral port against a public opinion still sn to the old way of living, merever there has been progress id there is evidence of remark : progress in places—it has been teved under close European ion and supervision. Withdraw , and see what happens. everything a Fijian does, he looks to his born chief. It was the chief who set the example, ther in the food plantat'ons, the ge councils, or the fishing ex xions. His lady led the women he proper performance of their estic duties, in and around the 50. remember one woman with in my family was closely asso- Jd—a very great lady. She was ;r r *£bt to the week she . There was always a mat in es s of being plaited—and hers * the finest. Any stray woman ng in found herself plaiting, f the usual exchange of greet-

Even whilst talking, she scraped and polished a coconut cup. She never returned Z™? 1 an outing without bringing back something useful: a few sprouted coconuts for the pigs, a broken coconut leaf for a basket, or some medicmai leaves for some bodj sick. There was order around n ° woman was allowed to be idle, children were kept in order with small duties, as cleaning up, weeding, collecting vegetable leaves, ° r J* 1 ?. small Bibles at low tide.

And they all had in mind their manners. And what is more digni fying to man than good manners?

ANOTHER vivid recollection of my early days in Fiji was a visit we once paid to Ratu Pope and

his young wife. They lived in one oi the houses at Draiba, probably as a police officer. He had dined with us the night before, looking: like a young Roman god—tall,, muscular and slim, flashing eyes and teeth, and his hair cut in the shape of a helmet and groomed to perfection.

His wife received us with shy courtesy, silencing with a gesture several sewing machines which had been going at top speed when we entered. A bevy of giggling maidens disappeared behind billowing heaps of some pink stuff, all of which was being worked up into frocks for the church choir, to be worn that same evening.

An adorable little baby regarded us with perfect composure, and I

remarked how much he looked like one of the two little angels before the Sistine Madonna.

Then Ratu Pope came in, called from where he had been working in liio taro patch. With perfect ease, he sat in the doorway, ex plaining that he was too dirty tc come further, and we chatted until it was time to leave.

You see, he was working with his men and she with her women where would the Fijians find then chiefs now?

Another factor against these people—and, to my mind, never suf ficiently stressed —is their communa. system. Just as the pace of th« Canterbury Pilgrims was adjustec to the slowest horse, so that of the community needs be adjusted to the laziest beggar. Which means the doom of any individual enterprise; THE worsts millstone round thei: necks —and such a cherishe® one—is the Kerekere. The nev Fijian Dictionary says: Kere —1< beg. Kerekere, a system of gaininj things by begging for them from s member of one’s own group, is i recognised system in Fijian society So there you have it in a nutshell Observe the significant delicac; surrounding this subject. It is quit: definitely not restricted to member of one’s own group. Its use i unlimited. Its effect is paralysing Why should a man make an effor tc improve his lot when he know, perfectly well that he will neve reap the benefit? On the othe hand, why should anybody be s foolish as to provide for an emeu gency when all he needs do is tJ Kerekere, and get it?

It boils down to this: If we sat that we are standing by the Dee of Cession, to help the Fijian agains the Indian, we ought to be told an made to realise what we are let ting ourselves in for. On the othe hand, the Fijian should be tol some home truths, and made to re alise that he can’t expect others t struggle, while he sits at ease t reap the benefits.

The Fijian chiefs should give clearcut lead, and their teachers ar. preachers should speak up, even the topic is unpopular.

NG Children’s Xmas Party^

These were the final donations to til Sydney New Guinea Women’s Club, fl their Children’s Xmas party; —

At Norfolk Island on March I Miss Judith Hart, daughter of M and Mrs. M. P. Hart, will man Mr. Michael Mount of Adelaide, be

£ s.

Previously acknowledged .. 109 11 Kokopo Sports Club .. .. 5 0 New Guinea Club 5 6 Mr. and Mrs. Haviland 10 Mrs. A. Innis 1 1 Cadbury, Fry and Pascall . Chocolatr £131 18