Fiji’s complaint about N.Z.

Press, 5 November 1977, Page 14

Fiji’s complaint about N.Z.

When Fiji’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr Mohammed Ramzan, went shopping for his country in China, Singapore. Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Malaysia he had what he considered a grievance against New Zealand in his basket: trade union action in Fiji. The particular incident he had in mind—though it is not the only one to have occurred—was the dock strike in Fiji m July.

The Fiji Waterside Workers and Seamen’s Union went on strike over a wage claim and, later, New Zealand seamen from the Ngahere were detained, an incident which prolonged the strike. New Zealand unions placed a ban on Fiji shipping while the seamen were detained. The South Pacific Dockworkers’ Council sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, telling him that any attempt to use strike-breakers to end the dispute would cause the maritime unions in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji to impose bans on shipping coming from or going to Fiji.

Obviously all of this still rankles with the Fiji Government. Just after the September election Sir Kamisese Mara

talked of turning to places other than New Zealand for imports. The present tour by Mr Ramzan appears to be part of this strategy.

Mr Ramzan’s other complaint was that New Zealand goods cost more. Probably both aspects are influencing the Fijians. At an estimated 839.9 million for 1977, New Zealand’s exports to Fiji are not negligible and efforts should be made, to avoid placing a market in jeopardy.

What it all amounts to is a classic instance of a clash of cultures. Fiji is the only island nation that permits unions and its Government considers itself liberal by allowing their existence. The idea of an international brotherhood of unionists, even cosily confined to the South Pacific, is a bit much for the Fijian Government to take as yet. No simple solution presents itself, but some machinery should be devised to smoothe out such clashes rapidly when they occur. The sensible first step is for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federation of Labour to get together to talk about the possibilities of conflict and sort out a procedure for dealing with any that may arise.