PARLIAMENTARY TRIP TO FIJI

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1920, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY TRIP TO FIJI

party’s visit, to FigJ 3s^^ 06 the 1 thing, ’ J£ He added that it woulTdo a- great dealmcr the wood relations already exist ng between that colony and io a “I think there is a verj strong bond between New Zealand and the Islands” Hi® Excellency continued we are hopeful that it will assist our commercial relations. It is bml [ d to encourage trade, shipping and le X-nt generally. There are enm--mous possibilities m Hie Isl.m rade expansion, and when once we hit upon a solution of the labour question I am sure the colony will go ahead a e v fart indeed; in fact, it is going ahead masses misled by agitators “The unrest among tho natives a. disappeared at least for the present said Sir Cecil Rodwell, K.C.M.G =■ vernor of Fiji, in an ■ eellency said it was hoped would not be a recurrence of the trox hie. The recent disturbances weie confined to three districts and were by no means general. The great majority o Indians in Fiji, were not only an abiding, but were also exceedingly loyal. Doubtless the basic cause of the discontent was economic, for, like peo pl e in other parts of the world, tho. were feeling the rise in the-cost of th necessities of life. That was the begm nine of the trouble, hut he regretto to say the political element was >ntr< duced and he was afraid *h© mass< were seriously misled hy agitators.