CONTROL OF FIJI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1507, 17 January 1901, Page 55

CONTROL OF FIJI.

THE THREAT TO DEPORT A MISSIONARY. SYDNEY, January &. The “Daily Telegraph” says that the alleged threat to deport a Fiji missionary for advocating federation with New Zealand calls imperatively for investigation. The question involved is far more important than whether the missionary exceeded his privileges. A determined attack has been made by a reputable person on the Crown colony system. If the system is being maladministered in Fiji no time should be lost in putting it on a basis that will be more humane and more consistent with its intention. Another reason for investigation,_jif the political condition of those islands generally is that the High Commissioner recently' made a speech” attacking the colonial governing system ; thus he himself would seem to have exceeded his functions. The missionary charges present a further indication that the governing and the state of the islands is not what it should be. Mr Seddon, interviewed in reference to the Fiji trouble, said that in Sydney there was great apathy in regard to the matter. People did not understand how closely the general question lay to the Commonwealth of Australia. lie could scarcely believe that the Governor of Fiji could go to the extreme course indicated, because the Act under which he was working was obsolete, and was passed at a time when conditions in Fiji were altogether different from those existing now. To apply if now to a man like Mr Slade was absolutely improper. He intended to send a remonstrance.