[?]Estions Remain
p. 37 · Read in the full issue
[?] Im Task Ending
[?]Out Fijian
Roops In Malaya
NGAPORE newspapers an nounced on May 10 that the “Fighting Fijians” were to be idrawn from Malaya and would replaced by the Ist Battalion, ig’s Own Scottish Borderers, n the United Kingdom, ress comment added: “For more n three years the Fijians have i the terror of the Communist ;ls. . . . During their stay in aya to date, the linated 179 jungle-terrorists.” [multaneously, the Government i 'iji announced at Suva: Fiji is embarking on a heavy gramme of essential economic agricultural development and population is small, all avail manpower, especially Fijian, is required in Fiji. ind so, with great regret, the ernment of Fiji has decided ; the service of the Ist Battalion, Infantry Regiment, should not ixtended further, except for the months necessary for it to be ived in the field. ?he Battalion will return to Fiji ng the first half of 1956. . . .” [E Malayan Government had “expressed its warm apprecia tion of the splendid service n by the Battalion throughout tour of duty in Malaya”, the iment continued. \y their cheerful enthusiasm aggressive energy in difficult litions, the Fijians have earned admiration of all. These charac tics, together with their athletic evements and friendly good ire, have endeared them to the lyan peoples.” was added that the Secretary State for the Colonies, when essing the United Kingdom appreciation, had that Fiji had made a notable ribution to the campaign in tya and “deserves all our .ks.” 1951, the suggestion that Fijian ers should be sent to Malaya put forward by military quar- The first the public heard t it was a few hours before the md-dried plan was presented fait accompli to the Legislative icil. that time a former member of Council asked in a letter to the 3 what was being done to >gnise, reward and preserve n loyalty.” nours won by men of the Ist alion in Malaya include two ’s, one MBE, one British Em- Medal, two Military Crosses,
two Distinguished Conduct Medals, three Military Medals and 24 Men tions in Dispatches.
None the less, it may be asked whether the Government reference to the need for all available Fijian manpower for economic and agri cultural development in Fiji is any more urgent now than it was in 1951. If so, why?
After all, the basis of all respon sible criticism of the Fijians-for- Malaya plan has been that it con stituted a patently unfair call on the loyalty of an indigenous race outnumbered in its homeland.
HIGH tributes to Fijian achieve ments in Malaya were paid in May by the Press in New Zea
land, but little notice of the coming withdrawal was taken in Australia.
The New Zealand Herald, Auck land, commented editorially that the Battalion had been maintained at the price of sapping the strength of the Fijian community at home, and suggested that this was the main reason for the re turn of the troops next year.
At the same time, referring to the rate of Indian expansion in Fiji, the Herald said that it had been emphasised that unless the Indians take steps to curb their exceptional birthrate, the resources of the Colony will be overtaxed, the stan dards of living will decline, and racial friction will develop.