South Sea Bubble.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 14, 7 May 1914, Page 5

South Sea Bubble.

FIJI FOR THE FIJIANS.

A FANTASTIC SCHEME. The Suva correspondent of the Sydney Daily Telegraph writes A remarkable movement is now in progress amongst the native population. Strang* :as it may appear to Caucasians, the cry of "Fiji for the Fijians" has been raised, and patriotic native orators are travelling through the villages rousing their countrymen to a sens© of their duty—and collecting cash. As far as the white community is concerned, the agitation is surrounded by a good deal of mystery, though it is suspected that two white men—an Englishman and an Australian—are responsible for the planning of fch« scheme, and are using the ignorance and prejudices of the natives for their ■own advancement.

According to some of the natives, it is sought to organise the whole aboriginal population into a huge cooperative company, which will handle all native produce, and supply all native demands. Vast emporiums are to bo opened at convenient centres, and the white man, the "foreigner," is to be excluded from any participation in native trade. One exception, however, is provided for. The directors of the proopsed company are to charter steamships, and, subject to instructions, the white man is to be allowed to navigate and work them! Under the ■ beneficient auspices the company, everything required by the native is to be supplied at a cost price, whilst bunches of bananas which now ,ell in Sydney and Melbourne at anything from 3s to 8s or 9s, are to be paid for locally at the rate of at least 15s. The native is nothing if not credulous, and the propaganda is accomplished by many signs and wonders.

Not the least interesting under this heading is the reappearance of .Jailevu li Yosavakalua (the man who speaks once), founder of a sect which enleavored to reconcile paganism and Christianity. The Government of th« day deported Julian's imitator toßotuiiiah, and mere whites had supposed hat' he lay in that island for year* liast, quietly mingling his bones with soil. The old Fijian gods of witlom have also returned, with their precious gift, and the doubting Thomises, if there were any, have been ulen'ced. The principal chiefs ar» lolding aloof, not because they are less susceptible than their subjocts, but because their aid has not been sought. One chief, meeting an organiser, asked vhy he had been ignored, and the appeal confined to commoners, was told 10 read his Bible, and he would learn there that the Saviour of men had first manifested himself to the poor ; and lowly.

The Methodist mission has issued notice forbidding the use of its chapsis by the agitators, Out capital, has been made of the prohibition, and the movement goes merrily forward. Such 9. fantastic scheme can, of course, have but one end, and that will come with dramatic suddenness when an attempt is 'made to fulfil the lavish promise* that have been made to the deluded natives.