News from Fiji.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 113, 20 April 1883, Page 2

News from Fiji.

♦ Private advices from Fiji, (says the Auckland Herald,) state that there is a bad look out for business there. The Government have just succeeded m forcing on the country a law which ia regarded as highly detrimental to both the native race and the white colonists. The object of the Labor Act is to absolutely prevent the natives hiring their labor to white settlers. In carrying out Sir Arthur Gordon's policy of making the natives grow produce to pay the native taxation with t rather than alllow them to work for Europeans and pay the annual poll t*x ia money, he allowed a little relaxation at the request of the colonists. There are 100,000 who would be willing to be employed by Europeans if permitted, and of these ho allowed 2000 .to engage with Europeans. The Act which his now been passed is to cut off the supply of labor. The passage of the law was opposed stage by stage throughout its whole course, and on each occasion the six official members of the Executive voted for the Bill, and the six non* official members as regularly. against it. Un every occasion the decision was thus cast upon fche Governor's casting vote. The measure is looked upon as fatal to the advancement of the natives, and a direct blow to the commerce of the colony, as the supply of Polynesian labor is looked upon as also doomed.