FIJI COUNCIL CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18374, 14 April 1923, Page 9

FIJI COUNCIL CRISIS.

TROUBLE OVER : SUGAR TAX. ELECTED MEMBERS' PLAINT. REFUSAL TO ACT FURTHER By Telegraph Press Association— (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SUVA. April 13. The export duty of £1 per ton on sugar was expected last season to realise £56,000, but the Secretary of State agreed with Mr. E. W. Knox, general manager of the Colonial Sugar Company, to refund the. amount. As a result of negotiations, the company waived its claim to the refund provided the ordinance was repealed in April. The Legislative Council, at a sitting this morning, passed the necessary Bill. The Address-in-Reply was then read, in which the elected members protested strongly against the action of the Secretary of State in promising to return the tax without consulting the Council. They asked for an undertaking that such would not occur, as it rendered the work of the Council useless, and they refused further to carry out the functions of the Government in the colony until an assurance was received. A motion that the Adc-*ess-in-Reply be received as an expression of the opinion of the elected members was carried.

The Governor, Sir Cecil Rodwell, dissociated himself from the result of the delay in the transaction of business, and expressed tho hope that the Council's action would not damage the financial prestige and credit of the colony. The Council adjourned sine die.