Barracks

Capable Tradesmen

Fijians Build

IF anyone doubts that the Fijian, even when properly trained, can adapt himself to a skilled trade, he should look at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks now being built at Suva. New military barracks are being erected by a construction unit of the Fiji Military Forces, and all are Fijians, except a European officer in charge, a European warrant officer, and one Indian.

The unit includes blacksmiths, bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, concreters, drivers, plumbers, plasterers, pipefitters, steel workers, and even a native draughtsman. It also includes men who are training for various trades, but who have not yet qualified.

So far the unit has completed the headquarters block, the guard room, signals headquarters, large ordnance stores, engineers’ head quarters, three barrack blocks, and a mess hall for 500 men.

When completed the barracks will become the headquarters and main camp for the FMF.

Although the men draw extra money as tradesmen, they are soldiers first, and carry out regular military training.

Their work proves that the Fijian, "with training, has a natural

aptitude for skilled work in the building trade. t Negotiations are in progress be tween Australia and Holland to fix more definitely the Dutch-Aus tralian frontier in New Guinea.

Although the frontier between the two territories is regulated by treaty, it is not clearly marked anywhere.

t Rima Kurariki, who was senti to death by the High Court » Cook Islands on October 20,( for the murder of an island w/ named Meoroa, has had his pc commuted to life imprison Kurariki is in Auckland gaolD appealed against the death sen but this was rejected by the of Appeal.