Behind-scenes Talks May Shape

Plan For Fiji's Future

From a Suva Correspondent

As the New Year draws closer to the promised constitu tional conference in London, at which the future framework of Fiji administration will be erected, there has been a spectacular amount of talk going on behind scenes in Fiji.

THERE is nothing sinister in this talk—it is natural, considering the issues at stake. Indeed, the big surprise is that the talk did not reach its present pitch long before now.

Out of the talk there is coming a consensus of opinion, or at least a series of clear views, which will allow something to emerge in London which will be acceptable to the majority of the people in multi racial Fiji, where half the population of nearly half a million now is Indian. (See story below).

One good thing that followed the British elections of last year is that Mr. Duncan Sandys is no longer in power as Colonial Secretary, and able to force a decision on Fiji, whether right or wrong. He was inclined to use bullying tactics, and that would not have helped the Fiji situation.

The new view—which reports say has been expressed by Mr. Trafford Smith, Under Secretary at the Colonial Office, who is currently touring the British South Sea pos sessions (see p. 22) — is that there will be no pressure and that it is a case of, “you tell us what you want”.

If this is correct it is tremendously reassuring, and it certainly seems

typical of the known attitude of Mr. Trafford Smith.

Various members of the Fiji Legislative Council have been having meetings with their own racial groups to try to sort out ideas; and the Governor, Sir Derek Jakeway, several weeks ago started a series of general discussions with all of them, so as to collect their opinions.

There have been some bitter struggles among the Indians. This, basically, seems to be a juggling for power.

One Indian view is that the

London conference should merely lay down a general Constitution, and that the details of land and elec torate matters should be worked out by a new government in Fiji. An opposing Indian view is that all details should be firm before the delegates get around the table in London.

There has been a revived Muslim move for a separate electrorate, and this is an added complication.

The Fijians, who also have had meetings, have their ideas pretty well crystalised, but they are saying nothing for publication. They are

"Monterey" On The Reef

This is how the Matson liner "Monterey" looked when she un ceremoniously sat on a reef at Bora Bora, French Polynesia, for 52 hours over the New Year holi days. She eventually was pulled off, with little damage (note the tow line on the starboard) but will go into dry dock. These photo graphs were taken by John Smedley, of the cruising yacht "Sirocco". Story on page 101.

developing a strongly defensive attitude, and they are determined that they won’t have their policy of maintaining a strong link with the Crown “sold down the river”.

Mr. A. D. Patel made a bad tactical blunder by calling a meeting of school managers in Suva, in an effort to make all schools in the colony multi-racial.

The Fijians reacted violently (see p. 23) and wouldn’t have it. Their view seemed to be that if Patel proposed something there was some thing wrong with it. This is not the best mood in which to negotiate, but the fear is very strong with the Fijians that something will be forced on them from outside, particularly with the pressures of the Afro-Asian bloc in the UN. The lessons in British Guiana are still strong in their minds.

The Europeans are doing a certain amount af vague talk, although everybody is agreed that something concrete has to be done. Some leading Europeans—among them Mr.

John Falvey—are working on a general set of principles, and out of this may come something which may be shaped as a new political party, or perhaps an alliance of groups . . .

It is all taking a long time, and some frustration is felt in some quarters—no doubt the Governor feels it. But there is no point in being hurried, and a good deal of agreement may come out of the talk.

New Political Party Meanwhile Ajodhya Prasad, general secretary of the Kisan Sangh, has made a move of the kind likely to cause suspicion and ill-will.

Mr. Prasad last year asked the UN to find space for 80,000 Indians who wanted to leave Fiji (he said), because they were being oppressed.

He has now called a meeting at Lautoka and formed a new party, whose manifesto attacks in every direction the “colonial rulers of the United Kingdom in Fiji”.

Among other things it claims that the “colonial rulers” have taken complete control of all Fijian administration—a claim which ap pears to be based on the fact that the Governor, the Director of Lands and the Secretary of the Fijian Affairs Board are members of the Native Lands Trust Board, and quite ignoring the Fijian majority on the board and the fact that the secretary was previously a Fijian (Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna) and is very likely to be again. But it could well be fodder for the ignorant in the UN.