Story of a ‘Community

Development’ Project

A LTHOUGH the South Pacific Commission has been at work for some years, the term “Pilot Project in Community Develop ment” probably conveys nothing to the average Islands dweller. How ever, “community development” is very dear to the hearts of the earnest workers who are trying, under Commission direction, to plan higher standards of life for the Islands communities.

Mr - Howard Hayden, Director of in Fiji for many years, has written a book about an ex- Pfriment in Community Develop- SttrnpH vp 1 iifL r^2r b lf attractive volume, just published by of the Oxford university Press, Moturiki is a long, thin verdant island of pleasant appearance, sheltering under the shoulder of Ovalau, at the eastern end of Viti Levu, in the Fiji group. There is on Moturiki a community of some 650 Fijians, self-contained in that they grow most of their own food, and sell in nearby Levuka enough copra and surplus food to purchase their modest needs in manufactured goods.

They lived in the ancient Fijian way, almost untouched by “Euro peanisation,”

So, under joint Commission and Fiji Government direction, there went to Moturiki a carefully selected team, to show the Moturik ans how, by organised effort and less i a bour, they could get a good ri , ’ mi f of ]if ° without m their present method of living.

This new book tells the story and provides data of significance to all interested in native welfare in the Pacific Islands.