Tax, Deport

Fijians Wans Want To

Troublemakers

le Government of Fiji is reluc to take the stern action 'ested by a group of Fijians— ely, that troublemakers be de ed from the Colony.

E Fijians based their request on a resolution passed at a meet ing of more than 100 Fijians at Suva Town Hall early in miber; and was the result of ig resentment felt generally by ms against certain “agitators” □nsible for the sugar industry [lock (June-October). le resolution requested the Gov lent to look into the question of •rting any persons or groups of jns known to be responsible Causing internal trouble which lead to friction between the le, races and thereby lead to ished; and Bringing into the Colony lings, ideals and beliefs (Com istic) contrary to the teachings, > and beliefs which are the > of British democracy—teach etc., which may lead on to jles within the Colony, tree well known Fijians, two of i prominent in trade union rs and the other a school npal, on behalf of the group, e the letter to the Governor Kenneth Maddocks). They are i Meli Gonewai, Jioji (George) ituraga and Ratu Liv a i vola. ,tu Meli was president of the lesale and Retail Workers’ sral Union when the oil section hat body went on strike in mber, 1959, just before two ’ of rioting in Suva. Later, he differences with other factions he union over general policy, resigned, and formed the Fiji Workers’ Union. >ji Suguturaga, retired from Fiji Police Force in December, and entered business. In I. 1959, he took part in trade a affairs at Lautoka when ling workers on the dock me went on strike. He formed ew union, and subsequently tiated an industrial agreement the wharf contractors, tu Livai is principal of the ral Fijian Secondary School, iori, and is a member of the . City Council.

Time to do Something

e three men, in their letter, they considered that now was :ime for the Government to do ithing about the troublemakers. r ijians, and “seeing the crisis almost overwhelming Fiji” they 1 keep quiet no longer.

“We feel that we would rather die than let these people go ahead with what they are doing,” they wrote.

The Acting Colonial Secretary (Mr. Eric Bevington), replying on behalf of the Governor, said that while the Governor welcomed the increasing concern expressed on all sides for the proper maintenance of law, order and industrial peace, he regretted there could be no question of the Government assum ing the wide powers suggested in the resolution.

Deportation had to be considered in relation to the inalienable rights of British subjects. Those who were Fiji-born could not be deported from Fiji and, with comparatively few exceptions, no country other than the UK would accept those who might be deported.

The Government did intend to take greater powers in relation to deportation: but legislation of the far-reaching type suggested by the Fijian group could not be con sidered.

He Wants a Tax on 'Pests 7 Any suggestion of a new tax in any form usually arouses cries of anguish; but few will disagree with a suggestion by Semesa Sikivou, a Fijian member of the Fiji Legisla tive Council, that there be a tax known as the “Sugar Industry Pests Tax”.

Semesa, who was speaking during the debate on the 1961 Fiji budget, perhaps had at the back of his mind the trouble caused by a group of persons during the 1960 cane harvesting season.

Fiji, in 1961, will spend much of its reserves to make up for revenue lost to the Government through the sugar troubles. Semesa considers it is wrong that these reserves should

have to be spent because of the foolishness of a few persons, He wants a tax which would hit those responsible for the financial stringency.

Madame Kuy is one of the old Vietnamese brigade in Noumea, New Caledonia. She arrived with other coolie labour 30 years ago but now runs a coffee and tea shop—and has no intention whatever of being repatriated to Viet Nam.

She follows the old Vietnamese custom of lacquering her teeth black —which is probably only anticipating events anyhow as she is also a confirmed betel-nut chewer, and betel when chewed with lime has the same effect. No modern Vietnamese miss would, of course, dream of lacquering her teeth or chewing betel. —Photo by Dunn.