FIJI AND NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4881, 5 February 1903, Page 5

FIJI AND NEW ZEALAND.

Slit EDMUND BAB lON INTEIIV IE WED. MELBOURNE, February 4. Sir Edmund Barton, interviewed with regard to -Ur BarkeieyX .statement m l.ondoii tiiafc the Fijians were subjected to olhcial tyranny and crushing taxation, said; —"There is no reasoil to behove that the complaints are in ; my way .justified, nor is there any evidence of popular feeling in Fiii in favoi ir of iniinodiate annexation to New Zcaiann. Hie people of Fiji, boi.ii black and while, do nut appear to evince any desire to move in that direction. It'is ea iy to make charges, hut harder to substantiate them. It is not very diflic alt to produce petitions from coloured people for any aliened grievance.” MB BERK ELK V S CHANGES SUPPORTED. FEELING OF THE .NATIVE POP ELATION. (Received February 5, 0.23 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 4. In the course of an interview. Aer 1.. Mannus, well known in connection with Fiji; declared that Mr iicritclcy s charges were only too true. fcni Edmund Barton’s declaration that there was no feeling in favour of annexation displayed wonderful ignorance of the subject, especially in view of the fact that Mr Berkeley had taken Her no a petition hearing a thousand signatures asking the Bing to redress the gr.-ev-ai;ces°of Fijians. Europeans, bo Ef ad, bud also signed the petition. As regards the talk about annexation to New Zealand, Air Magnus said thoro was some misapprehension on the point. The natives, ho said, wish to amalgamate with anyone who will change their present lamentable state of slavery. Why New Zealand was mentioned so prominently was because the idea had got abroad that the Commonwealth did not want to have anything to do with black people. Another thing was that l New Zealand was much closer, and j there was a, better chance of trade. Again, New Zealand was used to ruling natives, and the Fijians would gladly be placed under similar ride to Lime under wiiich the Maoris lived. FURTHER SIDE-LIGHTS ON THE PRESENT POSITION. (Received February 5, 0.53 a.m.) SYDNEY. February 4. Mr Magnus, in traversing Mr A 1 lardy oo’s statements, says the question of the incidence of taxation is o-no of the strongest grounds of complaint embodied in tho petit ion taken to England by Mr Berkeley. . Ho alleges that natives are denied trial by jury, and both tho military and tho police arc forced to serve. . If they rofnso they can bo sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. As things exist, the Fijian native is little better than a slave. Even if bo attempts to leave tho colony he can be gaoled. Again, if be stays at home Jio is put into gaol if lie docs not work lor uctliinc;. r It is xi well-known fact, says Mr Magnus, that tho Government officials have only oho side of tho story to tell. They know very well that they arc haying a good time under tho present regime, but if a change is made they will be found out. There is great hope, however. from tho administration of Governor Jackson.

mb SEDDON’S actions in regard TO THE GROUP. After making some, inquiries, we are able to throw some light on tlie Fijian controversy, from which our evening contemporary will probably he able to fully understand the attitude and the anxiety of Air Allurdyce. Before leaving London, tho Premier wrote a letter to|the Secretary of State for tho Colonies on the Fijian question. He pointed out that the Fijian population was disappearing at the rate of over a thousand a year, and that tho European was less now than it was twenty years ago. There was a considerable decrease in the fruit export, while the natives, who worked intermittently, were quite satisfied to labour at fruit growing. Ho advocated, instead of pursuing the past policy of Fiji, that the Fijian population should bo spread out on new land, as is done with the Maoris, duo regard being paid to water supply and sanitation. "It is well known,” he wrote, "that the policy in Fiji under the late Governor, .Sir George O'Brien, was to bring the Fijians in from the outer settlements, and to increase tho size of the villages, but this meant bringing the Fijians to land that did not belong to them, land that they would not improve, for if they did, the real Fijian owner would claim the products.” Mr Sedciou, when in London, pointed out that the new Governor would, •no doubt, give these matters his attention, and that tno New Zealand Parliament had passed resolutions some timq ago agreeing to the annexation of Fiji. In reply to those resolutions, the Secretary of State for the Colonies said that the Fijians who had land in the islands should bo consulted. How and in what manner, asked Mr Seddou, was this to be done? Information had reached him that petitions had been duly signed hy 20,000 Fijians in favour of annexation. What had become of them was not known.\ Mr Seddou, seeing that it would be some time before any decision could be arrived at, urged that there should be some change in tho government of Fiji in tho way of having European and native members elected to the Executive Council. This system had worked well in Ceylon and other places similarly situated to Fiji, and, if done, it would relieve the strain or the situation, besides being appreciated by both races. Mr Seddon also suggested raising a loan for the purpose of constructing roads and development works for improving the beds of rivers for navigation, and bringing in a water supply. He also- advocated that extensive experiments should be made in cotton-growing, which would find employment for tho natives, in pines of fruit-growing; and that assistance should be given to fruit-growing. Mr Seddon pointed out, also, that sugargrowing in Fiji seemed to preponderate to too great an extent. It was not wise to have too many eggs in ono basket, since there might be a change in the present state of affairs hy the introduction of beet-growing in New Zealand or the buying of the raw material. All of these would, to a great extent, b 0 against Fiji as at the present time.

In reply to this letter, a communication has now been received through the Governor. stating that the new Governor of Fiji. Sir Henry Jackson, has already been asked to report on the question of giving more effective representation on the Council to European residents and natives. Consideration would be given to the suggestions of Mr Seddon with regard to improving the lower reaches of rivers and constructing roads and bridges. The Secretary of State, said Mr Seddon, might rest assured that his suggestions would receive full consideration, both from Sir Henry Jackson, and from the Secretary of State.