Cabinet System

Fiji On The Way To A Cabinet System

The Colony of Fiji will take a first step towards self government on July 1 when a “membership” system is intro duced. It is expected to be the forerunner to a ministerial system.

APPROVAL for the system was given by the Legislative Council in January but in early May the Gov ernment made a firm announce ment.

Just before July 1 the Executive Council will be reconstituted to pro

vide for the appointment of six ui official members two Europeai two Fijians and two Indian.

At present it is comprised of or unofficial member each for thr< racial groups, and an addition; European.

For many years it has been tl practice for each racial group of ui official members to elect one of the number to the Executive Counci In addition, the Governor appoin another unofficial member, n< necessarily from the Legislate Council.

Three of the six unofficial men bers of the Executive Council will I associated with the formation < policy on matters of natural r sources, social services and works ar communications and thus ga “ministerial” experience.

The membership system was fir suggested in 1961 by the previoi Governor of Fiji, Sir Kenne Maddocks. The idea was receiv< very coolly by the unofficial membe of the Legislative Council, but it w not dropped. Sir Kenneth refern to it several times during the r mainder of his term, often qui petulantly. • Australia will take more i terest in Fiji, p. 41.