Fijians Want No Change In Constitution

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30004, 13 December 1962, Page 10

Fijians Want No Change In Constitution

(N.Z. Press Auociation —Cop>rtoht)

SUVA December 12. Mounting Fijian anger over vague Government statements about the future of the British Crown colony of Fiji was freely expressed in the Legislative Council debate on the Constitution which ended today. Fijian and European members united to support a Fijian motion which stated that cognisance should be taken of the Fijian wish that no change should be made in the present Constitution until indigenous Fijians had expressed a desire for a change. Indian members opposed the motion. Government officials took no part in the debate and abstained from voting on the motion, which was carried by a substantial majority of the “unofficials.” Outside Pressures The mover of the motion. Mr Ravuatna Vunivalu, said grave doubts had been created in Fijian minds because of developments in other territories. Fijians, he said, saw a conflict between assurances given them from time to time and what they regarded as pressure brought about by high-powered politics. He said: “We demand to know whether our bond with the Crown is the same as when the high chiefs of Fiji handed over their land and their people to Queen Victoria."

Speaker after speaker insisted Fiji did not want “socalled independence forced on us." A European member, Mr H. B. Gibson, declared: “The Colonial Office in London must realise Fiji is unique. Fiji has never been conquered. There is no urgent demand for any change in the way of government.” A notable feature of the

debate on the Constitution was bitter criticism of the United Nations ••interference" in the affairs of individual countries. Mr Rata Penaia Ganilau said the United Nations should be told to keep its nose away from British territories. He said: "Many United Nations delegates, I am told, are only 22. 23, or 24 years of age. They not only discuss but they make decisions about the running of territories. That is not acceptable to us.” A European member. Mr C. W. Cayzer said: "Now we have a yelping pack of newly - emerged countries which are incapable of running their own affairs, let alone the affairs of other nations and we should resist any inclusion in their activity. I am sometimes ashamed of being an Australian when I think that the Australian Government and people were too weak to utter a strong protest at the murder of West New Guinea.”

Another European. Mr J A. Moore, said: 'TTie thought of West New Guinea and the United Nations makes many of us feel we can be got at with a similar type of thing."