by talks, 'not confrontation'

Fiji's future should be decided by talks, 'not confrontation'

Fiji’s Chief Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, announced in June that Alliance and Federation Party would meet “this month or next” for discussions on a new constitution for Fiji.

The date of a London con stitutional conference —“I sincerely hope it will be a conference and not a confrontation”, said the Chief Minister—will depend on the measure of agreement reached at the meetings.

Ratu Sir Kamisese said that if, after the second and third meeting, there seemed a possibility of agree ment, this could be indicated to London.

“The ball in this matter is now in our court,” he said.

He gave no indication of any specific line to be taken by the Alliance Party during the talks— although he has said earlier that he feels both parties will push for at least full internal self-government.

The meat of the discussion will be whether the Opposition is still thinking in terms of immediate in dependence.

The Chief Minister made his announcement at the news conference held on his return from the Inter national Sugar Council conference in London. It was the first time Fiji had been represented as a full mem ber.

On the matter of quotas, he had good news for the country’s sugar industry. He said: “Quite a number of territories have already reported that they will have a shortfall—which means they will not be able to supply the whole of the quotas allocated to them.

"Not enough sugar"

“The indication is that there is not enough sugar in the world to meet the demand.

“Fiji has a very good possibility of receiving extra quotas this year because of the shortfalls already re ported and through allocations from the Hardship Relief Committee.

“I think the farmers should know that there is the prospect of a good price—about £Stg.3s a ton—on the world market at least for the rest of this year.”

The Chief Minister predicted that the price of sugar would rise still further.

This was indicated by the very size of the shortfall—already 378,000 tons. He estimated that the increased

quotas would be awarded about July or August.

A few days later, the Fiji Sugar Board issued a statement backing up the Chief Minister’s remarks.

It stressed that no decision to in crease the quota levels had been made at this stage. But, it added: “If, on account of shortage of supplies, the world price reaches a figure equivalent to a London daily price of £42 a ton, and this price is maintained for something over a fortnight, the executive committee will almost certainly meet at once to consider raising the level of quotas already allocated.”

The statement said Fiji was not entirely dependent upon a decision to increase quotas generally. There was also a possibility of receiving a dividend from the hardship fund.

In June, Fiji’s Sugar Advisory Council faced up to the fact that there was little likelihood of agree-

ment being reached with sugar cane farmers on the terms of a new con tract.

The Independent Chairman of the Sugar Industry, Mr. Justice C. C.

Marsack, made official recognition of the dispute by issuing a certificate to that effect. The next step was to be the appointment of an arbitrator.

Mr. Justice Marsack issued the certificate following advice from the Sugar Advisory Council. He notified the Chief Justice that the certificate had been issued.

The move was welcomed by the Alliance Cane Contract Committee and the National Federation Party, although a spokesman for the NFP said he felt the certificate was “rather belated”.

Also at his news conference, Fiji’s Chief Minister was asked why he hadn’t said anything before his departure about receiving the ac colade of knighthood from the Queen. (The ceremony—a surprise to Fiji—was held at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh on May 21).

He replied that the arrangements hadn’t been completed before he left Fiji, And he added modestly: “Even if I had known that ar rangements were complete, I would have been most diffident about making any splash about it because it is not right in Fijian custom — particularly when it affects the Royal family—to put out advance publicity in such matters.

Ratu Sir Kamisese.