Mr. Fisher?

what Follows Visit Of Mr. Fisher?

By a Staff Writer

The Protectorate of British olomon Islands, the Anglo-French ’ondominium of New Hebrides and te British Crown Colony of Fiji •ere visited in the first half of jnuary by the new British Under ecretary of State for the Colonies, fr. Nigel Fisher. Mr. Fisher was :companied on his tour of inspec on by Mr. J. E. Marnham, who is le official in charge of Pacific Terri fies Affairs at the British Colonial ffice. u¥R. FISHER’S inspection of three hi. out of four British Territories the South Pacific—Gilbert and llice Islands Colony was not in uded appears to have been unprehensive. He examined most the important administrative tablishments in the Territories, and id conferences with the directors private enterprise. For example, the Solomons he visited the head larters of Lever’s Pacific Planta ins, at Yandina.

Political observers in London, ex essing themselves in commentaries January, saw more than usual »nificance in Mr. Fisher’s tour in e South Pacific.

It was pointed out that during '63 decisions of far-reaching impor nce will be taken in connection th the rearrangement of the British fionial Empire. Some people call e rearrangement “disintegration”.

It is pointed out that by the end 1963 many of the former British fionies in Africa, Arabia, South ist Asia and West Indies will have en grouped—usually in federa >ns —as self-governing units within e British Commonwealth of ations.

One commentator said that soon ithing will remain in the care of greatly shrunken Colonial Office cept a few small Colonies which e not able to support themselves onomically. It can be added that perience already has shown that any of the British Colonies which •w are being thrust into self vernment are already a good deal arse off than they were under the ■itish Colonial Office.

The indications are that the four •uth Pacific Territories under itish Colonial Office rule are garded as being still in the category

of small Colonies which are unable to as yet stand on their own economic feet.

This surely applies to the Solomons, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, and the British section of the New Hebrides. It need not necessarily apply to Fiji.

However, the survey made by the Colonial Under-Secretary probably will confirm the official view that, because of the peculiar racial situa tion in Fiji, Fiji politically is not yet fitted for self-government. In num bers, the Fijians and the Indians hold a nearly equal place in Fiji; but the much smaller community of Europeans controls the economic balance.

Naturally, Mr. Nigel Fisher has given no indication of any con clusions he has reached regarding Fiji.

It is, however, a safe assumption that certain administrative changes to be brought into operation in Fiji— probably this year—will be aimed at creating machinery under which Fiji born people will be trained in creasingly in administration.

It is expected that the Govern ment of Fiji will be controlled and shaped for some time yet by the British Colonial Office, but under conditions which will permit Britain to rid herself of her South Pacific responsibility—just as she has rid herself of colonial responsibilities in Africa, Asia and elsewhere—at a comparatively early date.

It is still hoped that one of the chain of events being set in motion by the Colonial Under-Secretary’s visit will be the organisation of some sort of constitutional conference in Fiji. The leaders of the non-official classes there could be encouraged to hammer out, between themselves, the kind of self-governing machinery which, in their view, could meet their future needs.

(See also report of Mr. Fisher’s Press Conference, page 5.)