“Need For A South Seas
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Colombo Plan”
A specific request by Fiji for Australian development aid has so far brought no results from Canberra. The request was made in February by Fiji’s Governor, Sir Derek Jakeway, on a visit to Australia.
HE asked the Commonwealth to help with technical advice for construction of a £5 million Nadi- Suva road; to make grants for the construction and maintenance of school buildings; and to help in development of hospital and medical services in the Colony. He also wanted Australia to help make credit available at low interest for various development projects.
Many senior Fiji officials are known to be unhappy at the lack of response to the Governor’s specific request for aid.
The official attitude in Australia seems to be that no help is likely because Fiji is not a beneficiary under the Colombo Plan and there is no other machinery available.
Criticising the Australian reaction in a commentary broadcast over Australian national ABC stations on July 1, PI M’s editor, Stuart Inder, said, “If this means we are always going to send our friends away empty handed, then it’s time we got some machinery going. A Colombo Plan for the South Seas is certainly needed”.
Later, the question of a Colomb Plan type of aid scheme for tl South Pacific territories was brougl up several times by Ratu K. K. r Mara during the South Pacific Coj ference in Lae in July.
On one occasion he told the Press “If the South Pacific Commissic wants to be an active oragnisatioi it should look into the matter of Colombo Plan for the South Pacifi I consider that the Governments ■ Australia and New Zealand shoui put in just as much money for t!
South Pacific Commission as for tl Colombo Plan.”
On another occasion, in the co< ference itself, he said: “We wondi that the territories in Asia can avs themselves of all the education institutions in Australia and Ne Zealand, and that the South Se: territories are unable to do so. WI doesn’t the Commission investiga the way this aid is given to tl; people of Asia and have it ma»j available to the people in the Sout Pacific also?”