'Working Well'

Fiji's New Member System Is 'Working Well'

From R. W. Robson in Suva The Member-Minister syste , introduced in Fiji as a first st 6 towards self-government in th rapidly-growing Crown Colony hi been functioning since July I — an< apparently, functioning well.

NATURALLY, the new admin strative system has been und( close and critical observation I “The Beach”—as the rank-and-file i non-official commoners are calk here—but so far comments have n< been at all unfavourable.

The six non-official members ( Legislative Council who have no accepted a degree of administrate responsibility—J. N. Falvey, A. I Patel and Ratu K. K. T. Mara j Members (Ministers-in-training j some call them) and Ratu Penai Ganilau, R. G. Kermode and Madhavan, as members of Execute Council (or “The Cabinet”, as son say) have entered upon their in portant new duties seriously and wil apparent purposefulness.

The Members have wasted no tin in poring through the files and gettir to know the staffs of the Governmei departments in their sphere and tfc institutions for which those depar ments are responsible.

Member Patel has blazed the tra in on-the-spot activities, for he bu not only visited the head offices c two of the principal departments i his “portfolio” Education an Medical but he has also inspecte many schools and hospitals in Suv and in the North-West. His recor “stint” was a tour of seven majc schools in Suva in one day.

Although Ratu Mara, as Membe for Natural Resources, and M Falvey as Member for Communic< tions and Works, have not had s many outside activities, they ha\ had many meetings and conference with staffs of departments with whic they are associated.