NATIVE AFFAIRS IN FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16123, 11 January 1916, Page 9

NATIVE AFFAIRS IN FIJI.

PROPOSED WAR CONTINGENT. LOYALTY OF THE PEOPLE. The present state of native affairs in Fiji was the subject of some interesting re- \ marks by the Rev. A. J. Small, chairman of the Methodist Mission in Fiji, who i arrived in Auckland on furlough yesterday |by the Makura. Mr. Small has been en- ' gaged in mission work in Fiji for the past 37 years. I '' At the present time there are. over [50,000 Indian coolies in Fiji," said M.. Small. " There has been no inter-marriage [between the Fijian and coolie, the difference in faith being: the chief deterring factor. Most of the. natives are Christians. Out of a population of 85,000, about ; 80.000 attend the churches There is a [larger natural increase on the part of the | Indians, however, than there is among the ! Fijian?.'' | Mr. Small referred to the reported ! unrest among the younger Fijians. Civilisaticn and education were having an effect I and they were looking forward to the lime ! when the condition of the Fijian would be bettered. To this end they held conferences and it was evidently upon the nature of their discussions that the report of unrest had been disseminated. Mr. Small said that the present acting-Gover-nor, M'r. Eyre Hutson. was an able and practical administrator, who might be trusted to deal tactfully with the native problems. Referring to the proposal to raise a contingent of Fijians for service at the front, Mr. Small stated that the Fijian Legislative Council had already made an offer in. this direction to the Imperial authorities, from whom no definite reply had yet been received. *' It would be quite possible to raise a contingent of able-bodied Fijian?," said Mr. Small, "who, if they were pro perly trained and then sent to not too cold a zone, would, I am Mire, acquit themselves creditably. They are among the most loyal subjects of the King and there is no reason why they should not make good soldiers."