MISSIONS AND COMMERCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8380, 14 March 1907, Page 3

MISSIONS AND COMMERCE.

The future of Fiji, which is attracting more attention just now than has been the case for many years, was dealt with by the Rev. J. N. Buttle, of Master ton, at the Methodist missionary gathering, on Monday night, from the two aspects of missionary work, and commercial development, says the Christchurch Press. It was an unusual combination, considering the occasion, but no one has better right to speak Of Fiji from both points of view than the organising secretary oi the Mdthodist Foreign Missions. For modern Fiji is practically the product of those missions. Trade is said to follow the flag; it would often be more true to say that it follows the missionary, and this is emphatically the case with Fiji, where a Wesleyan mission was established 40 years be-

fore it received the protection of the British flag. The early missionaries found it a savage land; to-day

through their efforts and those of their successors it is a Christian one, and life is as safe there as in New Zealand. The civilisation of Fiji, regarded quite apart from its conversion to Christianity—though it is impossible to dissever- the two conditions entirely--must stand for all time as one of the finest achievements of missionary enterprise. It is unfortunate that the spread, of civilisation has , been attended by the serious decline of the native population, but the mission authorities can at least claim that the process of decay would have gone on in any case, and probably faster if they had not/been there. Mr Buttle's idea that the natives should supply the labour required on the planta- , tions is excellent if it could be put into practice. There are many obvious drawbacks to the immigration 'of Indian coolies into the group, and it would be the salvation of the Fijians if they would supply the place of these aliens, who have already secured a very firm footing in the islands. But in view of the i Fijians' inborn antipathy to work, and the absence of any necessity for , them . to take to it, Mr Buttle's suggestion becomes a-> counsel of , perfection. His statement that what Fiji requires is a development policy 1 is true enough, though it is hardly necessary that it should be on the lines of Vogel's Public Works policy in New Zealand. The Colonial Government, as it is, are pursuing a policy of development by encouraging settlement, and they will no doubt do still more in that direction if success attends their efforts. The assertion that the future of Fiji lies iit the hands of New Zealand capitalists if they will build railways offex-s a tempting prospect in view of the undoubted possibilities of the colony, and the matter might be worth looking into; if it has not already been considered. If the Land Bill becomes law, New Zealand capitalists I may, want some outside investment | for their money, and they might do ■ worse than put it into Fiji.