AMERICAN TROOPS IN FIJI

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23810, 2 December 1942, Page 2

AMERICAN TROOPS IN FIJI

WELCOMED BY GOVERNOR FIRST PUBLIC REFERENCE (.0.C.) SUVA, November 30. The first public reference to the presence of American troops in inji was made in the Fiji Legislative Council to-day in an address given by the Governor, Sir Philip Mitchell, K.C.M.G., at the opening of the council. His Excellency said it was now possible to refer to the presence in our midst of a great force of all arms of our Allies of the United States, and to extend to them officially on behalf of the Government and the people of the colony that public welcome which they had done their best to extend personally since their arrival in Fiji. . His Excellency said it would be realised by all that their first duty was to subordinate every consideration of private interest or convenience to the paramount obligation upon all to vender those forces every possible help and to organise their own small resources in such a way that it may be of the greatest value to the common effort. He added that the people of Fiji had had an understanding friend in the first American Commanding General of the island during whose period of command there had been established between the civil authorities and Force Headquarters close, cordial, and intimate relations, which were continuing with his successor in command. The Governor also referred to the brilliant victory of the American forces in the Solomon Islands. He said that the glorious records of the lighting men of the United States had had added to them in those victorious operations many great and gallant feats of arms by which deadly blows had been struck at the enemy—deadly blows indeed, but no more than an earnest of things to come. Referring to the finances of the colony. his Excellency said that general reserve, emergency reserve, and surplus balances were expected to amount to the sum of £625.000 by December 51 1042. Next year they had estimated a deficit of £58,000. This deficit, however, would bo greatly increased since estimates did not show more than about one-third of the expenditure on the military and naval forces and other war obligations of the colony. This would involve additional taxation which he did not desire to discuss at length until proposals were studied by the Standing Committee on Finance. He would state, however, that it was his view that income tax on companies and corporations should be increased to at least five shillings. His Excellency also paid a tribute to the general war effort made by the people of the colony. Referring to civil defence he said that with experience of this work in London and Malta, he could say that the services in Fiji were very good.