Fiji Takes A Backward

Look At The Riots

Fiji in January-February was holding a post mortem on * causes and the problems behind the Suva riots of December, there was far more talk than action it was only because most ople had agreed that nothing could be done until after the irns Commission Report is released, probably this month ving, it is hoped, a blue-print for follow-up action.

SSE were the main post-riot levelopments (for a full report »n the riots see PIM, January) : The Wholesale and Retail :ers’ General Union which ed the oil workers’ strike, which rn led to the riots—was granted ncrease in wages and better itions for its oil industry workers p. 14).

Fiji’s Chief Justice, Mr. Justice ;, opened his on?-man corn ion of inquiry into the immedi jauses of the disturbances (see Th| 6) Governor, Sir Kenneth docks, made statements on con tional reform, appealed to Fiji ents not to exaggerate the ag, which, he said, affected only nail part of the Colony, and sed the Government was “try very hard” to improve condi i and attract capital.

At the first Legislative Council dng since the December session suddenly suspended because of dots, Fijian and Indian m mbers the time to explain their at les more fully, and the ;d on a happy note. One Fijian iber proposed election of three tie five Fijian Legco members.

Governor's Statements nong the statements on the bles by Sir Kenneth Maddocks one r ported in the New Zea ; Herald, from a staff reporter, paper reported Sir Kenneth as tig that some modification of Fiji constitution would be neces before very long, although he Id not like to say what form modification might take, joting the Governor, the NZ ild said, “Constitutional refo m i country such as this is not •ly as simple a matter as in say, toa or West African territories, re there is virtually only one . We must find a constitution jh is acceptable to all the dif nt people here.” emmenting editorially on the ernor’s remarks, the Herald had to say: i’ew will quarrel with the view Sir Kenneth that the consfitu cannot stay the same forever, the order for priority for re us in Fiji is less clear cut. hedges made to the Fijians under Deed of Cession impose limita

tions on any transfer of control along lines adopted elsewhere. The native inhabitants are now in a minority and are likely to form a decreasing proportion of the future population. Yet the history of en tienched clauses in constitutions, with the aim of preserving rights, gives little confidence in the perm anence of such arrangements.

“Population and racial problems in Fiji inevitably demand attention as a preliminary to political change. . . Attempts to enunciate long term solutions would be premature until the (Burns) commission which has been examining just these problems reports early in 1960.

“Irrespective of its findings, how ever, the need has been shown for greater immediate attention to industrial relations. Even where labour leaders act with the most genuine of motives they are liable to let loose forces beyond their con trol, especially when they employ industrial weapons in societies not fully familiar with them.”

Meanwhile, in his Christmas broadcast in Fiji, Sir Kenneth

appealed to all in the Colony to cultivate the spirit of goodwill if the Colony was to keep to the path of racial harmony. Once that path was left, he said, disaster lay ahead. (Over)

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He added, “There are many in these islands to whom life is hard and who may sometimes feel that they are forgotten. I can assure them that Government is not the callous, impersonal machine which it is sometimes thought to be, neither knowing nor caring of their dif ficulties.

“I am conscious of these diffi culties and we are trying very hard to improve conditions and to at tract trade, industry and capital to these islands; but the one certain way to prevent progress and to ensure general hardship and poverty is to allow impatience, prejudice and mistrust to cloud your judgment and embitter relations. Remember that ill-will can ruin this Colony, that goodwill will be its salvation.”

Not Anti-British

In the Legislative Council mem bers had this to say; Mr. B. D. Lakshman, Indian elected member and president of the Sugar Workers’ union, denied there was an anti-British movement in Fiji. Everybody was British he said. ‘The struggle in Fiji is the usual struggle which has gone on all over the world, of those who have and those who have not,” he said “In our free system there should be no attempt to blockade this movement ”

M‘ Lakshman said he did not think there would be an anti-British movement in the Colony “for a very long time to come”.

Discussing the riots, he said, “Some did not behave well and others got angry at it and had a go, and that was the end of it I don t believe in violence at all ” a ™ ama u Vunivalu - the fifth Fijian member, said that from time to time he had felt ineffective as a member of the Council.

He said there was an unfortunate that U th d P er fiv nd v- e feeling abroad hart five Fl i lan members all had the same ideas, moulded bv duSv? S tn n n traditions ’ and not con " hp fnvfß S rogress - Nothing could be further from the truth.

Election Wanted

nnH U^ times had changed too quickly shin bSwP^ S fL ot -ir n ° W any r Nation &nip between the Fijian villae-er anri the town worker and his represent

S aiH

of the present council, it would be all to the good,” he added.

Mr. A. I. N. Deoki, Indian elected member for the southern division, said the Indian communities did not advocate any modification of the Deed of Cession. He said he gave an assurance that the Indians liked the Deed and would always honour it.

Semesa Sikivou said it was very unfortunate there was tension in Fiji. He wanted to tell the Indian people who had misunderstood part of a speech he had made some time ago, that at no time would he ad vocate an attack on the Indian people by the Fijian people. He was very concerned that some of his Indian friends should think that he wanted the Fijians to regard the Indians as their enemies.

He added that like Ravuama Vunivalu he would like to see the election system changed, but the desire for change had got to come from the majority of the people, and it was for them to ask for it .Mi-. Vijay Singh said: “I most sincerely urge the leaders of the communities represented in this

council to sit down together vately where people don’t speak because they want to get in headlines, and where people speak frankly, openly and sine so that we can dispel any understandings and strena

inter-racial relationships.”

Mr. H. B. Gibson said many < seas papers had harped on question of political change. He nobody in his hearing in the few months had cried, “Giv Votes” although he had heard ; of people cry “Give us Moi Money was wanted in the Cc to bring industrial peace