Increasing Pressure On Fijian
pp. 68-69 · Read in the full issue
Solution for a Major Problem
Landowners
• The primary problem of Fiji — namely, ownership of most of the land by the Fijians, who, because of their system of communal life, do not make effective use of it, is discussed in this article by ,( Tavite”.
It is to be remembered that there are now 155,000 Fijians and 180,000 Indians in Fiji.
AS a solution of Fiji’s most urgent problem, it is suggested that the Fijian Affairs Ordinance be overhauled, and that all Local
Government machinery and institu tions be incorporated in one body.
This is put forward by men who have had a lifetime of experience
in Fiji, and who have the Colony’s and the Fijians’ interests at heart.
For too long, the Fijian has been maintained as a race apart from his fellow-men, by an Admini stration which—up to now—will not face up to facts.
Economic, social and political pressures are putting an increasing burden on the Fijian. The only way to prepare him to accept respon sibility is to scrap the outmoded regulations and customs which hamper his freedom; and bring all forms of local government under the one administration.
This is a task which, with the necessary legal powers, could be assumed by the present Department which now attends exclusively to Fijian Affairs.
The second step, which will have to be taken sooner or later, is the reform needed at central govern ment level.
Is He So "Different"?
The main objection put forward by opponents of any plan to release; the Fijian from the retarding influences of the present admini stration, and those of his wasteful and uneconomic customs, is the old cry that ‘"the Fijian is so different”,; Different from whom? one asks,: The reply is that “he isn’t ready and has to be protected”.
The only difference between the Fijian and anyone else is that he has been “protected” to the stage> where he is losing the economic, social and political battle to his more progressive fellows. He cannot any longer accept the benefits deriving from his present social and political set-up without assuming: corresponding responsibilities and duties.
If the Fijian isn’t ready nowJ he never will be.
The talk about protection is ad-j vanced in the main by those chiefs, officials and people who want to see the entrenched traditionalism continue. The main reason probably is that in any change, the privileges which attend the old order, or most of them, will inevitably go by the: board.
The transfer to the Fijian of more responsibility should awaken him to his obligation to cultivate or use his land, and to assume ai
jigger role in the Colony’s trade ind political development.
The longer he is kept apart, in lis own water-tight system of local government, while being hampered ly un-economic customs and ommunal duties, the less chance te has of using his land to the •est advantage—and the longer it dll take him to fit into his proper lace.
How, in God’s name, can the 'ijian assume his responsibilities, nless he is given the chance to rove himself!
His Salvation—or Undoing The able report of Mr. Mac- DUgall, on the Fijian Administra on, which recently was tabled in iji’s Legislative Council, points out irtain un-economic anomalies and eaknesses in the system.
Unfortunately, the terms of ference precluded Mr. Macdougall om recommending any sweeping Langes; and it would appear that iless a positive lead is given to e Fijian—and he accepts it —the it us quo is to remain indefinitely, th a few inconsequential modifica ms.
Land vested in the Native Lands ust Board is one of the Fijian’s lin assets. It can be either his vation or his undoing. [t can be his salvation if he is 'en the land, and the wherewithal start work on it. Work it he ist —otherwise he cannot justify ; holding on to it indefinitely, :hout improving it, to the dusion of his other and less for late fellow-men. lis undoing could come about if s situation is simply left to drift phen inexorable pressures, nomic, social and political, would npel him to surrender his land, f such a parlous situation came >ut —and it could —it would then seen that the Fijian is no dif mt from anyone else. ’ortunately, any wise and far ing Administration now has the lortunity to provide, in any stitutional change, that land ding, or ownership of a certain srmined value, through absolute, it or common ownership, would one of the necessary qualifica is in the electoral status of a ?r, both at local and central ernment levels. his would ensure that the Fijian i is worth his salt would have say in the respective central or 1 government machinery, which, t was properly designed, would :e it possible for him, if not to rol, then to take his place with :rs in the control of the affairs he Colony. lerefore let us say Yadra Viti ke-up, Fiji). Given the good of all, it should be possible to a workable solution of the »lems with which we are faced.