[?]ack From the Jungle
p. 53 · Read in the full issue
The Future Before
[?]Jian Fighters
IHE men of the Ist Battalion, . Fiji Infantry Regiment, have enjoyed killing bandits in alaya (about 205 at last score), id the Fiji Government is now ced with the problem of rehabil itmg these fit young men in the latively prosaic background that ey left behind them.
The first body of Fijian jungle :hters left Suva for Malaya in nuary, 1952. When they had com bed two years service with dis union, many people felt that they d done their bit and should be urned to fill the gap in Fiji’s de ited land development force.
But the military authorities de ed otherwise, and, with numer -5 replacements from time to time, : Ist Battalion has served in laya for over four years 7his regiment of redoubtable iters is expected home in June Council Paper No. 4, of 1955, re 1s that the Fiji Government has en considerable thought to the abilitation of these men.
Imphasis in the Scheme is ards a return to village life, to iculture and other out-of-tow r n upations, particularly to fishing, very returned serviceman is to ;ive a basic grant in kind. Those > choose to return to their iges and agricultural pursuits be exempt from communal es for six months after discharge will receive agricultural imple its or replacements of fishing :s and gear. md settlement is an important of the scheme, but only for e who genuinely wish to farm heir own account, lis will be organised provincially a committee with the title The Malayan Ex-servicemens’ lement Committee,” consisting of Economic Development Officer, local Agricultural Officer, and a tentative of the Native Land t Board. lection for land settlement will place 6 months after applica- This is to allow the com -56 to assess the veteran’s zeal ability as a farmer, and to r the ex-soldier to make up his as to whether he really wants ake up farming on his own mt. ly men, who, in the opinion of Board, will make a success of Ing, will receive the necessary cial aid. e Labour Department will act mployment agency *or those
wish t 9 enter town employ
immediately on their return, vision is made for vocational ng, technical and agricultural, aursaries for higher education be available for those who Js the necessary qualifications svish to enter trades or pro ns.