On Political

Plans For Talks

Future Of Fiji

Active plans for a constitu tional revision in Fiji have not been advanced very far since August, owing to the absence of an executive head. Sir Kenneth Maddocks retired and departed early in September, and the new

Governor, Mr. Francis Jakeway,

is taking the leave due to him, and is not due in Fiji until

January.

WHILE he was in Britain in Sep tember, Ratu Penaia Ganilau (who returned to Fiji by the liner Orsova in November) had a number of conversations with Mr, J. E. Marn ham (who is the British Colonial Office official in charge of South Pacific affairs) and the constitutional position in Fiji was discussed.

Ratu Penaia said on his return that the proposition that delegates from Fiji shall meet in London in late 1964 or 1965, to discuss the form of Fiji’s future government with the Colonial Office, appears to be the basis of the plan on which the Colonial Office is working.

It is recognised, however, that much preliminary work has to be done in Fiji in 1964, so that the ideas of the several Fiji communities re garding future government may be shaped and clarified before the dele gates proceed to London.

No Weakening of Ties Ratu Penaia was one of the Fijian leaders who spoke very frankly in the Legislative Council over a year ago, and said that, while the Fijians recog nised a need for some constitutional change, they would in no circum stances accept any weakening of the tie with Britain, unless a correspond ing amount of governmental authority were handed back to the Fijians.

It was apparent that Ratu Penaia had had talks about the political out look with Mr. Marnham, but he was not prepared to discuss the situation with newspapers, at this stage.

Ratu Penaia, on his visit abroad, was accompanied by his wife and two of his children, and they were warmly greeted by friends in United States, Britain, Sydney and Auckland.