Is Assembling

Fiji's Social and Economic Future Burns Commission Is Assembling

According to the published preliminary agenda of the Burns Commission of Inquiry into economic conditions and pos sible constitutional changes in Fiji, Sir Alan Burns is to leave the United Kingdom for Fiji in the Oronsay on May 20; and Mr. T. Y.

Watson, another member of the Commission, will arrive in the Colony by air on June 24.

The third member, Professor A. T.

Peacock, will arrive by air on July 1.

The formal opening of the in quiry will take place in the Legis lative Council Chamber, Suva, on July 3.

Thereafter, the group will travel very widely throughout the Colony.

Their Fiji itinerary, up to August 19, has been published, though this is subject to alterations, according to the circumstances.

The Secretary of the Burns Com mission is Mr. R. G. C. Strick; and the Commission’s Fiji headquarters will be in the Government Build ings, Suva.

A number of reports, covering surveys of social, economic and political conditions, made by ex perts, have been prepared for sub mission to the Commission, late in June.

The terms of reference of the Commission are wide and simple: “To examine the surveys of the Colony’s natural resources and population trends and, having re gard to the need to ensure the main tenance of a good standard of living for all sections of the community, to recommend how the develop ment of the Colony and its resources should proceed.”