Fiji Leg-Co.’S Recent

Provocative’ Session

From Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Dec. 2.

HE recent session of the Fiji Legislative Council has been described as one of the most vocative in its history. In the •ds of the Governor (Sir Ronald rvey) it has been a “very con ictive session” and “should bear d fruit.”

'here seems to be general satis tion over the session. Adminis tion bristles with anomalies; and, some members describe present icy as one of “weak appease at,” there are more who applaud pleas for “peaceful co-existence” de by His Excellency and Ratu Lala Sukuna. mportant issues seem to centre the fact that the Fijians, the imary race in the Colony,” show ippointing progress in self-gov ment; and their most severe ,ics are some of the leading tnbers of their own race. De tralisation of administration, imistically shelved by Govern at in the hope that the Fijians ild “evolve” a greater measure of Donsibility, has been received by Fijians, one gathers, with some ef. >ne member of Leg-Co. stressed importance of choosing the it type of District Officer, alities needed, he said, are a nd knowledge of the people and ir customs; commonsense; and husiasm.

Taxation

’axation commanded most at tion from the public, particularly relation to future vested in ;sts in Fiji. A drastic overhaul ;axation was recognised as neces y if investors are to be attracted r ards promising new ventures; I, while Government’s action in ting something back in the De ipment Fund kitty is meeting h general approval, and a 3d in £ general reduction in income has been granted, it is felt that vices generally are outstripping Colony’s ability to pay.

Vhile Europeans grumble at the all return they get from all the ome tax they pay, and urge im ved educational facilities for dr children in the Colony, the ie is being pulled in the other ection by those who contend that great a proportion is being spent education and medical services it Fiji cannot afford, and that s is a “fool’s inflationary para e.” That latter criticism, how :r, can be levelled at any country sing its economy on to day’s sup bs and demands. rhe Sugar Stabilisation Fund, posed by Indian unofficial mem *s, is an example of Government’s Jire to guard against the evils of

iflation—likewise the Copra Cess, nounting to £lO a ton on copra nd less official Cess on bananas /6 per case). These are enorm isly strengthening the position of >th the Indian and Fijian primary ■oducer.

How Long In Malaya?

On the vexed question of whether ie Fijian troops should remain in alaya, Government was not pre ired to make an unequivocal state ent—rightly so, perhaps, when o quote the Colonial Secretary), hese matters can only be an gered properly by Her Majesty’s Dvernment in the United King im.”

Outh Pacific Commission

The South Pacific Commission, e value of whose assistance to Fiji is questioned, was defended on e grounds that, though Fiji is iterrupted” by SPC visitors— Dme inquisitive, some imparting lowledge, some giving advice” —in e main Fiji benefits from the ntact, the best example being the lip given to the potential cocoa dustry by the recent visit of an pert under the auspices of the >C.

Domestic issues included the ssing of the Fair Rents Bill, with lendments designed to protect ver-paid members of the corn unity against a sudden rise in nts. This is timely, in view of

the overcrowding in Suva, where the demand for houses far exceeds the supply.

Leave Conditions

Leave conditions—a touchy sub ject on which there has been some uneasy speculation among civil ser vants, who expected curtailments of leave privileges when a general salary revision took place recently— remain untouched. Government, under “pressure of more urgent business,” has shelved that thorny one in the meantime—but intends to appoint a Commission of in quiry, and to consider the question of “accelerated promotion and allied subjects,” within the Colony.

Indian Community

Mr. Vishnu Deo, the Indian elected member for Southern Division, referring to the need for proper control of the conditions of service of any Indian labourers sent to any other parts of the Pacific, was assured that this would be “carefully scrutinised and controlled so that the economy of this country should not be affected.”

On the subject of immigration, and the amount of time which an immigrant should be allowed to spend away from Fiji without losing his right to return, the Indian member was assured that Government, though aware of the points raised, could not provide a speedy reply to his suggestions.

Mr. C. Kugelberg, of Oceanic Trading Co., of San Francisco visited Tahiti in December to look over the local tourist facilities, Already well known there from his numerous visits, formerly as a rep resentative of Williams, Dimond & Co., then as a Pacific Islands ad viser to the US Government, Mr.

Kugelberg said that his firm has just opened a tourist bureau.