Fiji Political Crisis May

Not Be Far Off

By a Staff Writer

There are indications that political conditions in Fiji v move to a crisis soon—probably early next year.

THE Colony is now preparing for the election of a new Legislative Council. For the first time, a number of Fijians will be included by Fiji community vote, irrespective of the Council of Chiefs’ nomination.

As soon as the new Council is constituted—as before, it will con sist of ex officio, nominated and elected members, in which officials will hold the majority—the Govern ment will try to introduce “the Ministerial system” announced last year.

The plan is that some four or five non-official members of Legco will be selected (presumably by vote of Legco) to become members of the Executive Council. There, they will be given official supervision over cer tain administrative departments, and report to Executive Council.

It is proposed that from this there will be developed, “within three or four years”, a system of government by Ministers, and that the Ministers will form a Cabinet which will super sede the present absolute authority of the Governor and his Executive Council.

Right of Veto The Governor would retain his right of veto over the decisions of the Cabinet; but if his decision is challenged by appeal to the Colonial Office, he must defend his veto to Whitehall’s satisfaction.

When this plan was formally an nounced in April, 1961, the Fijian leaders would have none of it.

Later, in forthright speeches before the December Legco, the Fijians indi cated that they wanted no funda mental change in Fiji’s present system of government by the British Colonial Office; but that, if changes were in sisted upon, then governmental power must be handed back by the Crown to the Fijians, who surrendered it by the Cession of 1874.

Said Ratu Penaia Ganilau: “So long as the present system of government exists in Fiji, the Fijians will welcome parity in the numbers of unofficial members who sit here,

because this will safeguard guarantee their legitimate interes “But when the time comes— hope it will not come soon— there is a new form of gover to replace the British systemr the Fijians would like the compc of the Legislative Council to viewed.

“I would like it recorded hei when that time comes, the runt this Colony must be handed ow the hands of the Fijians—by mean administratively and politt Ratu Penaia was strongly suj by other Fijian speakers. Ther: it clear that they will not Indian control and that, in thei any plan of self-government bs a common roll, means Indian d tion.

They see the “Minister systi the thin end of the wedge, an will resist it.

The Fiji Governor and hii executives know that the Fijij their present mood, will to share governmental control! with the Indians; and that any to enforce political reform aloir lines will cause grave trouble..

Unfortunately, the British 0 Office cannot see what their close to Fiji can see. Under colonisation pressures of Nations and United States, has cut her Colonial Empire to and enforcement of “self-goveis in Fiji is part of the pattern.

So Whitehall is giving thes and the unhappy officials in S 2 only obey.

The factors peculiar to H There were no Indians in Fr the Fijians ceded their cow Britain in 1874; the Indiansa duced as plantation workes allowed to settle) have a phe:s birth-rate (never under 40 p+c per annum, and 44 per !,♦, year), and now outnumber th<r by 205,000 to 175,000; a Colony’s population, some has outstripped its economic ment, causing an acute social j