FIJI’S PERIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15918, 2 May 1912, Page 4

FIJI’S PERIL.

THE GREAT COOLIE PROBLEM. MORE DIFFICULT THAN EVER. Mr A. E. Shoeffel, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday and who lias lived for five years in Fiji, states that the coolie problem in that country becomes more difficult every year. Coolies continue to flock from India in their thousands. Very few ever return, and as the natural increase is rapid the country now swarms with them. From every point ot view except that of cheap labour, he said yesterday in an interview, these people from India are undesirable immigrants. Murder, theft, burglary and other crimes are rife amongst them, and it looks as if in tho course of affairs, a day will come when they will have practically shoved tho indolent, good-natured, happy and lazy Fijian out of existence. A gentleman stated in Auckland recently that that would take placo in live years. Mr Shoeffel thinks that is taking a somewhat pessimistic view of things, but he has no doubt that, unless tho tide of coolie immigration is checked, Fiji will'bo a coolie country in eighty years. Apparently their presence is necessary to tho development of the sugar industry. The natives absolutely refuse to work in the plantations, and white labour is impossible. It is a question of falling back on the coolies, or abandoning the enterprise.. Up to recent years the copra plantations nave been worked largely by Solomon Island “ boys.” Recruiting in those islands Iras been stopped by the authorities, and coolies are turning their attention to it as well as to sugar-grow-*The land question is an inevitable one in Fiji, as it is in other countries. All the native lands have been handed over to tho Government, which is having them surveyed, in order to ascertain the titles. When tho claims are settled the lands will Be leased or sold, and tho money will be given to the natives.

In spite of coolies, hurricanes and other evils, Mr Shoeffel says, Fiji is progressing. It is now fairly prosperou-.. As far as its prospects are concerned, nobody seems to think that it will develop any large industries oxcopt sugar, conra and bananas. Tho Bua Company, formed mostly by New Zealand farmers, tried to establish sheep-growing, but it was found that tlia climate was not satisfactory, and the attempt was abandoned.