A new slant

on NZ aid

The New Zealand farmers in Can terbury, who employ Fijians in that short-term, uncongenial job of tussock grubbing, are not so much helping Fiji as themselves and New Zealand.

This is a new slant on work schemes which have been going for about 10 years now and which have been hailed by Fiji, and also by Tonga, which also “benefits” from work schemes for Tongans in the Hutt Valley, as a good turn by a benevolent NZ Government.

The new slant comes from the pen of Dr Ron Crocombe, Professor of Pacific Studies at the University of the South Pacific, in the first issue of the Islands newest journal, Pacific Per spective, creation of the South Pacific Social Science Association which was formed in March 1972 “to promote interest and disseminate information in the social sciences in the South Pacific” and has its headquarters and origins in the classrooms and corri dors of the University of the South Pacific.

Professor Crocombe, who leads off the first number, published in Febru ary, with “Preserving which tradition? —The future of Pacific cultures”, writes, “Paradoxically, restriction on permanent migration leads to the poorer independent islands subsidising their rich neighbours! The Tongan economy, for example, pays the heavy cost of raising and educating children who produce nothing but consume a lot. When they become potentially pro ductive, however, the young men seek paid employment overseas. Women, as well as unfit and aged men, remain a relative drain on the reduced pro portion of active men left in Tonga.

“New Zealand, Nauru and the other countries employing Tongan labour, gain by acquiring fit men, usually with out their dependants, at minimal pay rates and minimum overhead costs in short-term jobs. When they be come redundant or old they are re turned to Tonga. In other words, contract employment which New Zealanders call ‘aid’ to Tonga is more properly Tongan aid to New Zealand.

“For seasonal harvesting (which Fijians particulary undertake in New Zealand) Fiji in effect pays the un employment benefits which New Zea land would have to pay during the off-season if New Zealand had a full work-force for these least desired tasks.”

This is only one aspect of Dr Crocombe’s short sociological study

which, for reasons of space, onl; skims the surface of the whole are; of problems facing the islands a they stand on the threshold of ; computerised civilisation. It’s an in teresting study containing a who! lot of material for future argument The second part, will be in the nex issue—there will be two a year. 1 will be awaited with interest.

Tongan Sione Tupouniua, assistac lecturer in Political Science at th USP, who is Pacific Perspective’ editor, has an editorial, of course introducing the journal plus a piec on “The Island state and the ir ternational community” which, agair deals with the relationship betwee the newly-independent Islander, hi former colonial superiors and th United Nations.

Other contributors, Professor E. K Fisk, Professor of Economics at th ANU and Visiting Professor at th USP in 1971, Dr lan Fairbain former Senior Lecturer of Economic at the USP and now Economist wit the SPC, Dr John Harre, Reader c Sociology at the USP and the lal Dr Rusiate Nayacakalou, as well £ a group of book reviewers, help t give Pacific Perspective a good sene off. Already it augurs well as a vah able and welcome addition to Soul Pacific literature.

Subscription rates to the journa which includes membership of SPSS/ are. life SF100; foundation (entitle holder to three-year membership) $2 ordinary three-year (outside Sout Pacific) $B, inside $5, students SP S 4; single year, outside SP $■ inside S 2, students $1.50. Subscripts and correspondence should be aj dressed to the Editor at PO Bo 5083, Suva.

Sione Tupouniua