FUTURE OF PACIFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20866, 7 May 1931, Page 10

FUTURE OF PACIFIC.

NEW ZEALAND'S AEGIS. NEED FOR ADMINISTRATORS. TRADE PROSPECTS WITH FIJI. "Some day wo may see a Confederation of the South Pacific, perhaps under the aegis of New Zealand, with Samoa forming a part; if so, there is no doubt that Suva would form a most suitable administrative centre." In these words Major C. B. Joske, prominent in public and commercial circles in Suva, discussed yesterday the future of Fiji and British interests in the Pacific. Major Joske predicted that in timo to come Fiji was bound to look more to New Zealand or Canada for protection and support. "We cannot help feeling that we havo moro in •common with New Zealand and Canada than with other countries," ho said. "Geographically wo are so situated at your thresholds as to be ablo to supply the tropical products such as sugar, bananas and tinned pineapples which you must necessarily import." There were already many links between Fiji and New Zealand, said Major Joske. For example, tho increasing number of efficient schools for Indians and Fijians has been made possible by an arrangement under which tho teaching staff was seconded for'duty in Fiji from tho New Zealand Education Departmont. The Public Works Department called on the New Zealand Public Works Department for road engineers. For those reasons all New Zealanders should take more interest in Island affairs and not regard the extension of Now Zealand interests in tho Island as being merely so many extra entanglements likely to become a nuisance to posterity. The Troubles in Samoa.

Fiji occupied a strategic position in relation to the islands of Polynesia, but if tho future saw a South Pacific Confederation arise an administrative sorvice must bo built lip. "I will throw out the suggestion," said Major Joske, "that the Colonial Civil Service offers a fine career to New Zealand University graduates, and that there is no finer training ground than tlio Crown Colonies for those who may bo called upon in the future to undertake greater responsibilities. Ninety per cent, of your difficulties in Samoa lio in the inevitable lack of experience in direct native administration of tho officials sent from New Zealand, and I do hope it will not offend your susceptibilities if I suggest that men with suitable qualifications might be seconded to tho Fiji Service to learn something of Colonial Office methods. We in Fiji would welcome the chanco to be of some assistance. "Poetically our Government is as close as possible to tho ideal. It is a benevolent despotism, safe, slow and honest, broadening from precedent to precedent. Our administrators have come from English public schools and universities, sent out at an early age to climb tho ladder from the bottom."

Impartial Government. The Governor was virtually an autocrat, said Major Josko. True, he. had a Legislative Council consisting of 25 members, but 13 of these were officials who must vote as the Governor directed. Of the remainder, three were elected by tho Indian population of 75,000 odd, six by the Europeans numbering 4700 odd, and three were selected from a list of I 1 ijians submitted by the Council of Chiefs representing 91,000 Fijians. Tho result was impartial Government in the best interests of the colony, and the claims of no particular section were allowed to receive preferential treatment. Major Joske said Fiji was very anxious to develop its trade with New Zealand. Fiji bought most of its supplies from the United Kingdom in normal times, to the extent of about £400,000 per annum. In Australia Fiji spent about £550,000, but in New Zealand only £140,000. Apart from imports of petroleum products, all but 9 per cent, of Fiji's imports were from British Empire sources. Tho question of increasing New Zealand trade with l'iji was a very tangled one, but it was one which both from sontinient and business Fiji shyiild like to see solved. He believed he was correct n saying that the Fijian Government had extended to the New Zealand Government an invitation to send a delegation to bo the colony's guests in Fiji to study the problem on the spot.