They Took A Look

Look At Fiji

From a Suva Correspondent Fiji had its share of VlP’s, of

varying degrees, in March. They

included half - a - dozen New Zealand MP’s, a top official from the Colonial Office and a United Kingdom delegate to the United Nations. All were on what they called “familiarisation” tours.

THE MP’s spent a week touring the Colony, looking at various projects, and then went off to Western Samoa and points east. They were a little nervous of publicity, and soon made it clear that they were unable to make policy state ments on behalf of New Zealand, which was quite understandable.

However, they did, through their leader, say that although the future of the RNZAF base at Laucala Bay was a matter for consideration by the New Zealand Parliament, the past record showed that New Zealand would never deliberately damage Fiji.

They were unable to say what the future air policy would be, or how much longer the Laucala Bay base will remain in existence. Neither did they promise that New Zealand would buy more bananas from Fiji!

The delegations comprised three members of the National (Govern ment) Party and three Labour (Opposition) Party. The Nationalists were Messrs. G. A. Walsh (leader), Sir Leslie Munro (better known as a former president of the United Nations General Assembly), and R.

J. Tizard. Those from the Opposition were Messrs, W. A. Fox, M. Rata and D. S. Thomson.

Colonise Office Visit While they were on their trip, Mr.

Philip Noakes, head of the informa tion section of the Colonial Office, arrived for a two weeks’ tour. Mr.

Noakes made no startling pronounce ments—in fact he made it clear that he was here just to learn something about the Colony at first hand.

Before starting his Fiji tour he went to the New Hebrides, and while in Fiji took a few days off to fly to Tonga.

The last of the VlP’s, Mr. Cecil King, British Minister for Trustee

Affairs at the United Nations, wa certainly not the least.

Mr. King, handled Fiji’s case las year when it came up before the U> Committee (of 24) on Colonialism He let it be known in Suva tha the UK attached little weight to th< resolution passed in the UN Genera Assembly last year calling on thi British Government to give indepen dence to Fiji immediately.

Bitter Comment Delegates on the Committee of 2 made some startling statements whe: the committee discussed Fiji, an these caused a lot of bitter commec in the Colony.

Mr. King commented in Suva tha he would like to know in some case where members had got their Suv “misinformation”. They had prc duced some curious facts and figure! especially the Soviet delegate.

He added that the final resolutio was not binding on anyone, and was based on a complete misconcej tion of the state of affairs in Fiji.

Mr. King also explained why tw high Fijian chiefs, Ratu Penai Ganilau (Deputy Secretary for Fijia Affairs) and Ratu George Cakoba (the paramount chief of Fiji), wh were in the United States at the tim< were not called before the committei He said that the committee did n( originate invitations, and did not ii vite people to talk to them.

But the possibility of Ratu Penai and Ratu George applying to t heard did come up, and the questio was discussed with them. But thei were difficulties as the men were o a State Department tour.

The matter had been referred t the Fiji Government, which had d( cided against applying for a hearin for the two chiefs.

Collapse

Mr. King saw a number of politic: leaders during his Fiji visit.

He also held a Press conferenc near the end of the visit. During i Mr. D. Krishnamurti, assistant editc of the Pacific Review, Nadi, collapse and died. Mr. Krishnamurti was controversial political writer, an was closely associated with Mr. A. E Patel, and Mr. S. M. Koya, tw Indian MFC’s. Mr. Krishnamurti ha been asking a question when he co lapsed across the table.

The Deputy Director of Medic: Services (Dr. D. W. Bookless) w£ called from an adjoining office an the conference was adjourned.

Mr. King visited Papua-Ne 1 Guinea after leaving Fiji.