No Change In Fiji
p. 24 · Read in the full issue
Hotel Hours
Fiji has decided it won’t change its hotel hours for the time being after all.
AT a short session of the Legis lative Council in early May the Government deferred to next year an amendment to its liquor bill which would have altered bar hours from the present 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., to 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.-9 p.m. When the new hours were first proposed at the be ginning of the year they included an evening “meal break” but there were several changes made prior to the final presentation of the bill, following public criticism.
The Colonial Secretary, Mr. P. D.
Macdonald, told the council that its object was to deal with two problems that had arisen since Fijians were allowed to drink beer without a per mit in 1958 (they still can’t drink spirits). There had been a consider able increase in drinking and a deterioration in social habits.
He denied this had been any panic legislation arising out of the riots of last December He said early next year the Gov ernment would set up a committee to inquire into the whole liquor question.
Most speakers in Legco opposed the bill for a variety of reasons, including its possible adverse effect on the tourist trade; because it was “unfairly aimed” at Fijians; and be cause it would drive away capital for hotel building.