Drunkenness Among

Fijians Causes Concern

INCREASING drunkenness among the Fijian people, which was emphasised this Christmas and New Year, is causing great concern to the authorities and also to the Fijian Chiefs.

Both on Christmas Eve and at New Year’s Eve no sensible people would venture into Suva hotels, or

for that matter loiter on the streets.

There was a considerable amount of fighting and bad language. It is unfortunate that when Fijians are drunk these tendencies immediately become apparent.

By common agreement, all hotels closed down at six o’clock instead of ten o’clock. It was a wise measure, but one not appreciated by many Europeans and part-Europeans, who do not belong to clubs.

A report is current that Ratu George Cakobau intends calling a meeting of chiefs at Bau to consider ways and means of curbing ex cessive drinking among Fijians.— Fiji Correspondent.