THE IDEAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 375, 9 November 1932, Page 6

THE IDEAL

NQ CUTS FOR OFFICERS OF FI.TI CIVIL SERVICE. CHRISTCHURCH MAN RETURNS. Fiji has its points — for instance, ' though the depression is having its effect on the European community, there has been no eut for civil servants — the Government wouldn't allow it! This, and other things, were learned of present-day Fiji from Mr. W. H. Buckhurst, former well-known Christchurch athl'ete, and now a Government field surveyor in Fiji, .who is on leave in Christchurch. He remarked, incidentally, that Fiji at present does not offer much opportunity for New Zealandars. Fiji comes under the British Colonial Office, but it has its own Legislative Council, which attends to affairs in general. There are on the council about 12 Government officials, six elacted European members, three Fijian members, and three, if available, members representing the large Indian community. It was decided at the last eleetion but " one to include three Indian members. These representatives turned up, said that they wanted certain things, and when they learned that the Legislative Council as a whole would not let them have these things, walked out. Thei posts remained vacant till the last eleetion, held recently, when two of the vacancies were filled. The native Fijian population is about 93,000, and the Indian population, built up over some 501 years of im'migration, about 83,000. The native son Fijian in his home town can liva on 10s a weelc, and the sale of his products provides this sum. Therefore, according to his philosophy, there is no neea to work. The Indians were introduced as coolie labour, and still have to be relied on for most of the labouring requirements of Fiji. They live largely on their own small farms, but come off them when required for other work.