FIJI.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1924, Page 4

FIJI.

LABOUR AND THE FUTURE. (By J. W. Burton, in “ Sydney Herald.”) In Fiji there have arisen within the past few years new labour conditions of such importance that it is not too much to say that the whole industrial outlook is changing, and changing rapidly.

There is a new and aggressive element in both the Fijian and Indian population which while it has other interesting aspects, has a very definite bearing 141011 the industrial and economic life of the islands. Neither Fijian nor Indiaii is prepared to be permanently the hireling of the white employer, and already the latter is being challenged in many directions, in view of these new movements and of what they foreshadow, he would be a very bold man who would venture' ally dogmatic prediction concerning the future of the colony. Will labour auditions be raj difficult that- there v dl be a further withdrawal of Eiiroooaii irpital, and the country sink back into a state where the inhabitants cultivate only so much land as will suffice their meagre needs? Or will Fiji, under a system of peasant proprietorship, ol both Indian and Fijian develop into a wealthy and prosperous native State as some West African possessions have done? AYill the European lie gradually eliminated and his place be taken by the Indian and Chinese? None may sav. It seems certain that the brown man is determined to have a liigegr say in things, and that the white man will find it increasingly difficult to obtain “cheap” labour for bis many enterprises. And without the labour of the iirowii man the white mail can do nothing i’ll this thipieill country. It will be remembered that flic chief source of the labour supply was L.din. From 1879 to 1911) no less than IJ2.SH7 coolies were transported from India to Fiji, though of these 2-1 ,(>ls men were repatriated under agreement. Natural increase of the Indian population (of whom nearly oft per cent are l 1 iji-born) accounts for the present number of 05.000. These labourers came Irom India under the “indenture -system,” which was under the control and supervision of the Fiji Government. Tn this system the labourer was indentured for five years, and severe penalties held him there. The system was comnioiu'cd in nil good faith, and, on paper, admirable regulations governed the treatment ol the coolie; hut voiy \wions abuses crept in, and the "hole system became suspect. Hot with indignation at the revelations of cruelty, and injustice, the people of India demanded the abolition of the system, which eventually took place in 19t(>, all further recruiting for Fiji in India being stopped. DAY OF FREEDOM.

In January, 1920, every Indian ill Fiji became Tree. Naturally so radical ,i change in the labour conditions could not fail to create difficulties and embarrassments for planters and companies, and one wondered how the colony would fare with this sudden stoppage of accustomed supplies. So many and valuable cargoes were alloat on the stream of Indian labour that its drying ii]i must surely mean, it was thought, vast wreckage and perhaps irreparable damage. Many gloomy prophecies of disaster were proclaimed, and particularly lurid picl tires of ruin were painted.

Bui such forebodings have, up to the present, proved false. It is true that Hie colony is suffering, and perhaps just recovering, from a depression; hut it is not alone in that; and such depresion is mainly due to causes outside Fiji, and quite independent of this change in labour policy. The writer, who lived in Fiji tor smile considerable lime, recently paid a visit alter an absence of some tliirteeo yeais. and be was -iirpiiscd lo lm,| |ei\\ gl'-.il (lie iliao-c:. ueie dnriiellml period, and how remarkably the colony bad adjusted it.-ell lo the new conditions, lie bad the opportunity of meeting planters, company managers, commercial men, and others in various parts of Fiji, and lie could not discover anyone who wished to have the old indenture system back. It was spoken of with abhorrence, and there was a general feeling of relief that the colony was rid of a long-standing disgrace, lie bail also the privilege of addressing large audiences of Indians in various places, and I heir gratitude was unbounded that the old “ slavery.” as they term it, was gone, and that now they had freedom and self-respect. True there have been dillieulties in obtaining adequate and reliable supplies of labour,' but these dillieulties,

in various ways, are being overcome. Futile efforts were made for a while, hy the few, to induce the Government to import labour from other countries —particularly China; but it was soon discovered that the hatred of the indenture system was world-wide, and that Fiji had an unenviable name on this account. The fact has been faced ami faced honestly hy many, that all the labour required hy industry in Fiji must he drawn from within the country itself. It is of no use looking to outside sources for help. There are in Fiji roughly, bo,ooo Indians and So.UMO Fijians, and it is upon this mass of potential labour that the planter must operate, lint he can operate now only according to the invariable law of supply and demand, and just now the difficulty is to find the rate of payment which will provide for something like equilibrium. AVhen that rate is found, and we may he sure it has not been yet offered, industry will be on a

sounder basis, and capable of healthier growth. WAGE INCREASE. Already changes are evident. In the first, place, there has been a definite increase in the rates of wages. Under indenture the normal rate was one shilling a day, now it is one and ninepence, with sixpence a day bonus if certain conditions are fulfilled. The Indians stoutly maintain that this total of two shillings and threepence a day is not equal to the old rate of one shilling, when the increased cost of living is taken into account. From inquiry it appears that food is practically double what it was in l!Jl(i, and (Inching is oven relatively dearer. Let it be said to the credit of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company that it seeks to mitigate in several ways the severity of the conditions for those in its employ. For example, it provides stores on its estates, where Indians may obtain provisions, etc., at the net landed cost—the company losing considerably on tiie working of these stores. One is glad to note what appears a change of heart on the part of the company, and everywhere there was evidence of more consideration for the Indian worker, ft may he that this appearance of philanthropy is simply more enlightened self-interest, but it makes life easier for thousands, and that is

surely a gain. Another circumstance to be considered in connection with the labour problem is the tapping of a new source of supply in the hiring of Fijian labour. At Hu some (300 are employed by the C.S.R. Co., and their wages (including rations are about 3s a day. This labour lias not proved satisfactory in it-

self, but it helps the company to tide over a temporary difficulty, and eases the drain on Indian labour, thereby helping to keep down the rate of payment. The Indians complain at the arrangement by which the Fijian gets more money for. doing obviously less

work, oiul they do not quite understand tlio renson of it. This arrangemeiit cilimot be looked upon" ns permanent.; it is only a temporary expedient, and, like most expedients, may create greater difficulties than it seeks to solve. INDIANS ON Til 1C LAND.

But the most important factor to ho considered is the extension of the inducements to Indians to take up land and themselves be responsible for the planting and harvesting of the cane. The land that* was mice cultivated in large areas by the company Is now being parcelled out among Indians at it rental which does little more than repay the company for the expenditure on the land; hut the real advantage to the company is the lixing, for it number of years, of an assured supply of cane. Jt is an inspiring sight to see the vast areas now cultivated in this way by Indians. From Barawai to Tavuit there is a stretch of some 17 miles of Indian cane, and a similar stretch from Nadi to Nu Signtoka. These small planters are happy and contented; ainl, under supervision grow excellent cane. The Indians on this western side of Yiti l.evu arc fairly satisfied with their lot. and are developing into a vigorous self-inde-pendent and wealthy community. The malinger of the Hnrawi mill told me that ait Indian had that very day lifted a cheque for L'oOO odd for cane grown hv him. As this method of peasantproprietorship extends it will certainly ease the labour market, and will possibly solve some of the problems. Hut may it not bring others into being A Frankenstein can more easily create a monster than destroy it. It is interesting to note that a few Fijians are taking advantage ol the company's offer and are now leasing from tlie company lands that were once their own and growing cane for the mills. On tlio “ wet side ” —that is, the south-east of the main islandol I'iji—conditions are not so favourable. .Many Indians were growing bananas for the Australian market, hut when that iniquitous duty was put on the trade stopped, and many who were once fairly prosperous were plunged into poverty and distress. This side ol the island grows only poor cane, and land is consequently going out ol cultivation ; but there is the hope of the dairy industry taking root, ami is this Imppens Indians will find congenial employment in keeping cows and sending cream to the lactories.

.Meanwhile there is the inevitable struggle going on between the employers who want to nay less and the employed who want to receive more. Already there lias been one serious Indian' “ strike ’’-though the increased cost of living was mainly responsible for it—and there are likely to he more before tilings settle down.