THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1901.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 183, 1 August 1901, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1901.

Sib Gboroe O’Brien, the Governor of Fiji, has again brought himself into prominence by bringing in a ! measure which almost certainly aims at preventing the incorporation ot*he islands with the .Com* monwealth or New. Zealand. On Tuesday, an Auckland Herald representative interviewed the Rev. Mr Slade, awell-known Wesleyan missionary at Fiji on this subject. •< The ordinance," said Mr Slade, “ has caused considerable excitement and discontent. It has no preamble ; does hot define the. offence, which p left to the discre-

tion of each magistrate ; it was sprung by flurprise oo the Council ;

nd finally passed within three* [jiarters of an hour from ite intro- • luction.* The .ordinance makes it tn offence to endeavour to influence i Fijian in favour of a change' of Government, and' also to cause him to be disaffected to the present form of Government, and in such cases the penalty is six months’ imprisonment without the option of a fine. It does not even provide for an appeal to the • Supreme Court. Among those who know the country, well there is a concensus of opinion that it is entirely uncalled for, and contrary to all Anglo-Saxon traditions. The Fijians are quite quiet. There would 'never have been a question of federation among them but for the action of Sir George O’Brien himself, who forced it without previous warning, or any preparatory dissemination of information, on the Native Councils. There, is on the part of the Fijians a desire for a change, and it takes the form of a desire for relief from the burdens of a poll-tax and the communal system* The people desire more freedom, and ; as education spreads the desire will grow. There is no danger of any outbreak on the part of the Fijians, who have no leaders, no weapons, no organisation, and in the case, of trouble a body of 25 men armed with rifles could march from end to end of the country. At the present the country is so peaceful, and the people so law-abiding, that a white lady might travel from shore to jgbore, meeting with nothing but courtesy and hospitality all the way. There are few countries oi which that could be said. It if because I know this tbac I think that Sir George O’Brien has migrepresented ‘ Fiji'in declaring suet an ordinance necessary. The fodera tion movement among the Euro' peana did not originate with th<

Premier ol New Zealand. It j existed years before, and is the outcome of the Anglo-Saxon desire for self-government. It is only natural that with large self-governing colonies hear, and Australia developing into the Commonwealth, the white residents should i desire a greater share in the Go- ■ vernment of their adopted country. The Council af the present time consists of official members, who are civil servants, and unofficial members, representing tbe planting and. trading interests. The official members are always in a considerable majority, while the unofficial members ace also chosen by the Go- ; vernbr; The colonists desire to ; elect the unofficial members, and in such numbers that they shall » have a real share in the Govern--1 ment Of the country.” The matter i has already been brought before the [ House of Commons, and, as a f result, Mr Chamberlain cabled to | Sir G. CPBrien that, if such an > ordinance had been passed, he should suspend its operations, and i await further instructions. Tbe ■■ Governor of Fiji, who is at present i in Brisbane, leaves immediately, ' en route ior England. He has . several times been approached, but 1 has always declined to make any statement in regard to Fijian \ affairs. Doubtless we shall heat more about the subject when be j" reaches England, and if, as is very probable, there is a change of Go- ; vernpr, the question of inoorporai- > ing Fiji in either the Common--1 wealth or New Zealand Will not be • long delayed.