Report on Fiji

NZ Labour Critic Report on Fiji Workers

New Zealand Labour leader T. E.

Skinner, who toured Fiji in Sep tember investigating labour and trade union matters, didn’t much like what he saw there. His critical view is contained in a report which was adopted by the New Zealand Federation of Labour in November.

MR. SKINNER is vice-president of the Federation, but he made his visit to Fiji at the request of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, to whom the report will ultimately go.

The contents of the report were released to the Press after the Fed eration had looked at them. Mr.

Skinner told a PIM reporter in Auckland that he was also submit ting another confidential report, which was even more critical. Mr.

Skinner said it was possible that the ICFTU might make its contents available later.

Some of th? points made in the Skinner report are: • Legislation governing institu tion of workers’ associations in Fiji has some “very grave weaknesses”, and there is a serious laxity in en forcing laws for their registration and in their operation. In Fiji, says the report, all the legislation re quires is the association of workers or the association of employers, and at present any person, no matter what his character may be, can form a workers’ association in any in dustry where a union already exists.

Not Union Minded

• This means that in Fiji, where, “to say the least, the workers gener ally are not union minded, a very serious split in the movement can occur because of the actions of some irresponsible person. In each case where this has occurred the split has been organised by persons who have very little thought for the workers’ wages and conditions but whose purpose is a job for them selves and personal aggrandisem ® n There is no doubt that workers in Fiji “do not have a wage that ensures a reasonable standard of livino-” and that “living conditions for °the native races reflect no credit on the Administration and in most cases are appalling. There is a grave shortage of accommoda tion many families living in one room and in huts with no sanitary conveniences, no light or power supply, and in most cases no wate

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reticulation. The only place; children to sleep is on the flo« “Building is expensive, an ordt section to lease would cost : £BOO, while construction costs i from £3/15 - to £4/15/ per These costs are prohibitive to average worker, consequently is a growing realisation that organisation of workers is nece to the well-being of the peop. • The organisation of an ass tion of workers in Fiji is a from the ground up because wcc will have to be convinced that: should band together. There grave handicap in the lack of able leaders, which leaves the open for some irresponsible dividual, with no employment) nothing to lose, endeavourin start up as a trade union offic

No Policy

• The report says that Go* ment staff deficiencies have vented the establishment ofl proposed Apprenticeship Cc and also has prevented the p; policing of labour laws conn with the health, safety and wt of factory employees.

On wages, the report says: “3 of wages do not support an ade standard of living. The average; is approximately 1/- to 1/8 an In many cases a flat rate of £ for a 44-hour week applies— as in the hotel industry. In cases no overtime rates are able and in some cases the time rate is the same as the ordi rate, while in some cases it isi by increasing by some degree weekly rate.”

"Education"

On education facilities, the r says: “Fijian children walk past an Indian school and Ii children walk miles past a B school to receive education at respective schools. In my opi the education system isfundam to the industrial growth and gress of the Colony, providing encouraging the native peopj play their part in a future di of racial discrimination.”

The report adds: “In subm:. this report it is n:cessary to one’s personal feelings and ex ences in regard to the standa living to which we are accust: in New Zealand. The report t: fore has not been exaggerated is a factual summary of the s tion.

“Realising the needs of the r people in Fiji and the econon the Islands it would be safe t; that the Colony potential is no; veloped or attempted to be; veloped with any enthusiasm. Ir

f the commodities that could wn, for example, wheat, rice, etc., are all imported while »le land remains in a state se. There is no agriculture or farming to the extent there be. Consequently the cost of is out of all proportion to the ly, and employment is most ous.”

Skinner report recommends, that the Fiji Industrial 'S’ Congress be given financial d employ a part-time secre nd office; that more trade literature and pamphlets rided for distribution in Fiji; rganisations should be con only through the Congress, at there should be a regular ge of representatives of the ss and New Zealand.