Royal Tour Highlights

A Big Year For Fiji

Prom a Suva Correspondent

SUVA, January 28.

first time elect their own members to the Legislative Council and women will have their first vote. ’

ZITHER political moves are being v/ stirred up as a result of the recent tour of Fiji by the British Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. Nigel Fisher (see p. 5). He has been obtaining the com munity’s views on Fiji’s future.

The visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be over by the time this is in print, for their’s is virtually a one-day stop. They arrive at Nadi by air on February 1, and next day visit Suva for one day aboard the royal yacht Britannia.

Britannia is already in Lautoka. She will later take the royal visitors on a tour of NZ and Australia.

A big group of Pressmen and cameramen from Australia, NZ and abroad have been arriving over the last few days to cover the royal couple’s first South Pacific stopdown, and there is a growing mood of excitement in the Colony. Fijians

have not been called “Britain’s most loyal sons for nothing.

At the end of March the Colony Council 0 * m 3 neW Le * islative Nearly 94,000 registered electors will go to the polls to elect four Fijian, four Indian and four Euro pean members. There will be two nominated Indian members, two nominated European members and two Fijian members elected by the Council of Chiefs.

This ., wil! give the Legislative Council 18 unofficial members, three more than at present, and 19 official members.

The inaugural South Pacific Games, to be held in Suva between August 29 and September 27, are also beginning to stir up great interest. far I. 3 territories have indicated

SSesTlil). Part

[?]se people were all to play a part in Fiji’s welcome to Queen Elizabeth in February. Above reading from left: Ratu Josefa [?]balavu, Tui Cakau (King of the Reefs) will present the "drying-out" ceremony-customary in ancient times when a high [?]f landed, wet, after a canoe voyage. Ratu Etuate Mataitini Vunivalu (warlord) will lead a party of chiefs aboard the [?]tannia" and offer the invitation to land. Adi Litia Tavanavanua will lead the "qalowaqa", ceremony of welcome to a lady [?]igh rank. Mr. R W. Balfour, Suva's Town Clerk. will be among those presented to the Queen at the wharf. Luisa Kamoe, Rotuma, will present a bouquet to the Queen outside the CWM Hospital, Suva.Below, Ratu Beorge Kadavulevu Cakobau, [?], Fiji s paramount chief, will present tabua (whales’ teeth) to the Queen and make a formal speech of welcome on [?]lf of the Fijians. The Queen will receive the tabua and pass it to Ratu Risiate Taurwau, her herald and spokesman (lower photo who will acknowledge it on her behalf. He will do all her formal speech-making-Photos: Rob Wright.