THE POSITION OF FIJI.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 93, 22 April 1915, Page 6

THE POSITION OF FIJI.

RUMOR OF COMMONWEALTH ANNEXATION. United Pres* Association. (Received 9.15 a.m.) Sydney, August 22. The Herald publishes an interview with a gentleman thoroughly conversant with the position regarding the rumbur that the Commonwealth is likely to secure control of Fiji. He says: Australia would be well advised to leave matters stand as they are. The main advantages derivable from the acquisition would he the control of trade, and the prevention of "any menace to Australia from the influx of colored races to the islands. He points , out that the trade is already secured to Australia and New Zealand by their geographical position. 'Hie prosperous development of Fiji is wholly dependent on Indian immigration, and it is certain that immediately control is passed to the Commonwealth this immigration will be stopped by the Indian Government, with consequent disaster to the colony. The Indian Government would never risk a repetition of Natal troubles. He declared that the influx of the Indian to Fiji would not constitute any menace to Australia, which has already sufficient trouble in its tropical development without adding complicated questions dealing with the Fijians and Indians to the list. Another consideration is the large amount of Australian capital invested in the group, there being over three million in the sugar industry alone, besides very large sums in cocoa mi t, banana, and other plantations. A collapse might be expected if the supply of Indian labour suddenly ceased, and this would be a serious blow to many in Australia. ' PRESS COMMENT. The Herald, commenting on the Fiji rumors, says there are substantial reasons in the actual development of the group for assuming that even if the British Government could find time to debate the question of its future, no change be made. At the time they had not even come to discuss the future of Fiji. Britain’s mind was so filled with war that she was not ready, and it was our duty to stand by, so it is clear we may dismiss the matter without further words. The Daily Telegraph says: If Australia assumed control, she would have to consent to a policy of importing asiatic labor dr condemn the bulk of the trad? industry, by which the white population in the group was now supported. To admit Fiji as a colored State into White Australia was politeically impossible, even if the position of the islands made its inclusion geographically impossible, which it does not. Until it can be shown that we could develop the country better than it is being done under present conditions, the advantages of the proposed change to anyone concerned will remain undiscovered.

Both papers discuss the question from tl(e view that changes are pending in the Pacific which are sure to arise as the result of the war.