FIJI AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1931, Page 6

FIJI AFFAIRS

DEFICIT IN PROSPECT. VANDERBILT YACHT ARRIVES. INGENUITY OF SMUGGLERS. SItVA, September ,10. Fiji Ims not escaped the world-wide depression, and a statement just published by the Government shows that the finances of the colony are slipping back and the year must close with an unbalanced Budget. The only way out is for the Government at once to reduce the salaries of the Civil Service. The Governor, however, so far seems very loath to interfere, and even insisted that the liberal allowances for holiday leave remain untoucned. This has aroused some feeling, and the public is clamouring for moie economy in Government staffs. The revenue for the first six months was £265,564, against £309,220 for the similar term last year. The revenue is no less than £3628 below the estimate. The expenditure is £301,828, as against £310,590, showing the small reduction of £8762. Customs revenue was £137,75© as against £169,725 last year. The two services that show improvement are the Post and Telegraph, which has an increase over last year’s figuies of £2153, and “fees of court, ’’' which show an increase of £3113. The Agiicultural Department’s expenses flew up by £19,148 over last year £ due partly to having to buy large quantities ot rice, and t° increased scientific stalling. Demand for Economies. The public seems inclined to take the* •aggressive if the Government reiuses.to . move towards substantial Reduction.Commenting upon the fine example : -set by the King and the Prince of Wales, the “Fiji Times and Herald” says in an editorial: “The stern measures suggested in England to remedy the situation provide a remarkable contrast to the stubborn resistance of the Civil 1 Service in Fiji to any suggestion of personal sacrifice, even when asked only to postpone for a while the granting of extended leave and the passage grants which were involved. These gentlemen would indignantly refute any suggestion that they were lacking in patriotism, but what difference is there between people who, shutting their eyes to the obvious, consistently, refuse to entertain any suggestion of economy ; which might involve their own pockets and’ their convenience, and the unem-. '! ployed, who just as consistently oppose any suggestion to reduce the ‘dole ? It I may be that His Majesty’s example I will be reflected in a change of opinion 'j n Fiji, and that the burden of economies will be carried equitably by the people and ‘all the King s men. .

Cruising in Pacific. A charming man, dressed modestly, with a pleasant smile, came ashore today from the yacht Alva, He was passed in the crowd in favour of a little man covered with gold lace. The civilian said he was Mr W. K. Vanderbilt, commodore and skipper of his own yacht: He did not .say so. in-that-Ty.aj,.-: but acknowledged that all that was true. The little man x was his_ chief officer. The commodore said they had left New York on July 7 and travelled by easy stages via the Marquesas, Tahiti the Cook Islands and Samoa, .and he proposed, after seeing something of Fiji Islands, to sail for New Hebrides, and then by Brisbane along the Great Barrier reef, for he is keenly interest-:. ed in any sort of marine life. The party on the yacht consists of the commodore, his wife, Mrs Rosamond Vanderbilt, M. and Madame Merillon and Dr. Lane. The Alva is a beautiful craft, on the lines of a cruiser, low of stem’and high in the bow. She is 3500 tons gross and carries a big crew. The commodore proposes to stay in Suva for about five days and then sail for New Hebrides. While here he will study all sorts of marine and bird hf e > Mr Martin, the local ornithologist, having placed himself at the disposal of the visitors. Local people are showing hospitality and the Women’s Club, now of 260 members, has offered Mrs Vanderbilt an afternoon.

Children’s Armlets. Among the Indians who come by the immigrant boats (in this ease the Ganges) there are always some who desire to smuggle something, sometimes jewellery, but more often some prepara, tion of Indian hemp. Great ingenuity is shown in secreting the drug. Last Sunday the chief landing waiter, Mr James, noticed, when he went on board the steamer, five very poor-looking children, who each wore a pair of hew, sil ver anklets, who looked strange. Next day he saw the children and none wore the anklets. Inquiries showed that an Indian motor Par driver, who was returning from India, had ten pairs of these as a “spec,” although he said he was bringing them merely as a gift to relatives. Hoping to beat the. Customs 'men, he distributed the anklets amonjjr the, children, telling the mother he wanted them to look smart when they landed. When tli.ey,-(landed he took the jewellery back. "His trickery cost him a £7 fine and the loss of the silver ornaments. Tn another ease, the official heard that one man had smoked Charns or gunji all during the vovagP, belongings were searched, with wit»orit avail. Just as the party was moving off. Mr James noticed an old pail, and after' testing it and finding it heavier than it should be. lie punched the false bottom and found the whole space filled with lo inches of gunji.