FIJI AS IT IS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6825, 2 October 1883, Page 6

FIJI AS IT IS.

No. rv. OBSERVATIONS ON TtTE GOVERNMENT OP THE COUNTRY. [by our special sepokteb.] ' The annexation of the Fiji Group was first thought of as far back as. 1858, when King Cakabau offered to cede the Islands to the British Crown. In 1860 Colonel Smy the was sent out as the first' British representative, to report upon the advlsableness of the step. He name out, inspected the group, took advice, went home again and reported unfavourably of the idea, and so matters remained as they were for another teu years. In 1870, the white population at that time numbering from 2500 to 3000, it became necessary to form 30me sort of government, and Mr. G. A. Woods was appointed Chief Adviser or Premier to the King, with Mr. S. C. Burt as Chief Secretary. The following year the Hon. J. B. Thurston became appointed to the latter position, and has continued to hold the office ever since. This system of government went on until at the urgent request of both natives and Europeans, the British Government in October, 1874, accepted the cession by the natives of the Islands, and Sir Arthur Gordon, the first Governor of the Crown colony of Fiji, landed at Levuka on the 24th Juue, 1875. Here I might state, as it is a matter very often overlooked or forgotten by thuse interested in Fiji, and who are perhaps in consequence too apt to denounce the present system of government, that Fiji was.not acquired by Great Britain by rght of conquest, neither was it annexed in virtue of what.is termed " the right of discovery." It was an act of cession sought for and brought about by the natives with a definitely expressed object, viz., their protection and preservation; and it was in this spirit and on this distinct understanding that the cession was accepted by Her Majesty's Government. The years 1869-70-71 brought down a large influx of European population, attracted there by the high price which Sea IsUnd cotton was then fetching. The traffic in land on the system we mentioned in our last article was being carried on to excels. At tirsc the natives did not mind, though it was all right as long as they got what they wanted. By and by, however, they began to be suspicious, and then apprehensive. Thty found their lands slipping away from them

in largo uiouits, anu yer. mey new notniug tangible in return for them. What they had received in lieu thereof and considered good value at the time had long since disappear, d or become worthless to them, and at the same time their lands were gone, and they knew would still continue to go unleßS something were done to check the encroachments of the whita people. Hence it was that they sought the protection, and not ouly the protection but also the assistance, of the British Government, in order to put a stop to what had been so long goiug on. The European population on the other hand, were equally anxious for annexation, but from an entirely different motive. Wheu the rush of IS7O took place things began to get very much mixed up. The system of government then in vogue was inadequate to the needs of the country. Law and order were not as stringently observed as necessary for the peace and comfort of the people. It was felt also that a change in the system of government would facilitate trading operations, would enhance the value of freehold property, would offer security for the introduction of capital, and would tend in every way to the improvement of the position of those who had taken up their abode in tho Islands. A circular which I have before me, dated from Levuka, October, 1873, and addressed by an influential settler to the white people of Fiji, sets forth the disadvantages under which they were at the time labouring, points out the benefits to be derived from annexation, and upon the settlers one and all to unite in petitioning for the same. And so, in answer to the prayers of the natives and the petitions of the Europeans, the annexation sought for by the two races from nimh rlifrVirfijif-, mnkiwoa amo Kr^„„V,t-

about, and Fiji became a Crown colony in October, 1874, the affairs of which are now managed by aGovernor and Executive Council. That any other system of government than a Crown colony could have been adopted, at the time was an utter impossibility from the very natare of things, and then Sir Arthur Gordon went there to govern the Islands in the interests of the natives, not of the Europeans, and that end and object has been kept steadily in view ever since. It is questionable whether the petitions and representations of the Europeans had the slightest influence whatever with Her Majesty's advisers in deciding tho question of annexation. However, everybody got what they wanted, and for a time were satisfied. It soon, however, became apparent which way the wind was going to blow, and instead of satisfaction ending in peace and contentment, things began to go all wrong for th 6 whites, and from bad have gone to worse, until today the utmost dissatisfaction exists against the Government and its policy. There is no mistaking the feeling which is abroad. Things cannot go on much longer as they now exist. Some change will have to be made, or else there is no telling what the consequences may be. The great cause of complaint amongst the settlers and planters is that they have no voice nor say whatever in the management of affairs which are of such vital importance to themselves and the best interests of the colony. Aa at present constituted, the Governor and his Council may pass measures presumably in the interests of the natives which may instantly cause the ruin of the capitalist who has invested hiaall, and more than his own all, in the endeavour to develop the resources of the country, and yet he has no appeal. It is not to be supI posed for one moment that the Government will ever commit themselves so cgregiously, but it is the consciousness that the possibility

exists tnat causes the feeling of uneasiness, distrust, and dissatisfaction, and as long as this possibility continues to exist so long will 1 1 the dissatisfactiou continue. It is something utterly alien to the nature of a Britisher— this feeling of insecurity, and no wonder that ; he kicks against it. The position of affairs, it seems, may be looked at from two different 1 standpoints—the native aDd the European. 1 110,000 natives argue thus : '-This country is ouc country, and has been so from time immemorial. Before you white people came 1 here we natives got on very well; we had 1 everything we wanted and that was necessary for our requirements, and we can get on very well now without you if you will only 1 leave us alone. We don't want you here, ; and you can go as soon as you like ; but if you are determined to force yourselves upon ns and into our country, you must be prepared to abide by our laws. Queen Victoria has made laws for us with which we are quite satisfied, and if you are determined to come and live here you are welcome to do po provided you abide by those laws. Under- ' stand that." The other view of the question ' seems to be : 2000 white people come over ' from Australia and New Zealand, and say to the natives, " You have a fine country here, but a great deal more land than you require for your own support; the rest is no i use to you, and never will be. We want some land to grow our tea ' and sugar, and coffee, and cocoa on.' • This land of yours which you do not require, and is consequently no use to you, is admirably adapted for our purposes, and we are willing to buy it of you at a fair price, if you will sell it and let us come and live amongst you. And, at we should require a iot of labour, we are willing to engage you and pay you a fair wage for a good day's work. We are willing, at the same time, to pay our share, aye and more than our share, of the cost ot. making good laws for the country; that is, if wa are allowed a voice in the framing of tbose laws, so that they may be as just for us as for you." Now, there does not appear to be anything in these two views of the question so diametrically opposed, as to do away for ever with all possibility of an arrangement being come to, by which the two races can ba satisfied, and laws made under which they may both live together in peace and harmony. The argument used by the natives, viz., that the country is their 3, no longer holds good since they have of their own free will sold such i large blocks to the othor party, and also from the fact that Sir Arthur Gordon, on more than one occasion, publicly invited the I capitalists of England to come out and buy Fijian lands. That fact alone I consider entitles the settlers of Fiji to a voice in the framing of their laws; for how was it likely that people would come out and invest their capital and their all under a Government which gave them no security for such outlay ?

Here, then, the matter rests, and what will be the probable outcome of the present state of dissatisfaction" it is difficult to say. Just now the people of Fiji are prepared to do anything—anything at all—to relieve themselves from existing disabilities. The

idea o! annexation to New Zealand, if suggested, 'is eagerly jumped at, and wouM be heartily gone in for if it could be shown that there waß the slightest possibility of its being accomplished. And why should there not be? Snrely, if Queensland considers herself capable of governing an immense territory like New Guinea, New-Zealand should be able to manage a small country like Fiji with the assistance of her own representatives. The distance is not so j great; our relationships are becoming more | closely allied every year; trade intercourse is being fostered and improved, and in every way the interests of the two countries ar<s so nearly identical that there should be no difficulty in our extending to the Fiji group these liberal institutions under which we ourselves are so favourably situated. The Imperial Government, too, having expressed themselves as desirous of seeing the federation of all the Australasian colonies brought about, should be favourably disposed towards such a move as this indicated, especially as it would relieve them at once from a very onerous burden. Of course the first step towards such an amalgamation would have to be taken by the Fijians themselves, but they may rest assured that if they ever do apply to New Zealand for help that help will not be denied them. As to the federation of all the. Australasian colonies into one dominion, it doe 3 not require u very prophetic eye to see that such a step in only a matter of time, and is one that will be rendered necessary by future circumstances. [To be continued.]