FIJI'S SELF-GOVERNMENT

NZ Truth, Issue 998, 10 January 1925, Page 13

FIJI'S SELF-GOVERNMENT

Ambitious Attempt

Experiment m 'Seventies That Failed

(By "Old Chum" m Sydney "Truth.") According to a recent publication, "The Colony of Fiji, 1874 = 1924," published by S. Bach, ©evefrti^oo* Printer, 1924, the cir-tMfmataßees which led Thakambau to desire the British Government to take possession of the. islands' were as follows: On the 4th ' of July, 1849, while the American Consul was celebrating his national anniversary by. the firing off of cannons and the letting off of squibs on the small island of Nukulau, where the Consulate was situated, his house took fire and was burnt to the ground. . Subsequent to these events complaints were made against Thakambau, and numerous losses were ascribed, to him, 'claims for damages m respect of alleged losses being made by American settlers through their Consul, and Thakambau was saddled with; the whole responsibility, although he had not been instrumental m causing the losses complained of. After preliminary investigation on tlie part of the United States Government, Comimander Boutwell was sent to Fiji m 1555 to inquire into the claims; the result was that the American citizens were awarded a sum of £9000. Offer to Britain. Thakambau, being unable, to satisfy the demand, offered m ISSB to cede the sovereignty of the islands to her Majesty Queen Victoria on condition that he should retain the rank and title of Tui Viti (King of Fiji) which had been accorded him by the American Government, a:id that m consideration ' of his ceding 200,000 acres of land her Majesty's Government should pay the American claims-, for him. . ••■ A deed of cession was prepared,' signed by Thakambau and the leading chiefs, which was conveyed to England by the British Consul early m 1559. Some months later Colonel Smythe, R:E., came to the islands as a Commissioner to make inquiries and report. The colonel reported against the offer, mainly on the grounds that England had quite enough to do with one native war— the Maori — and was m no humor to accept the responsibility of Thakambau,'s unruly subjects. Thakambau, being once more m danger of attack from Maafu, offered Fiji to the United States of America, Svhich, being engaged m a civil . war, sent no reply. In 1871 an ambitious effort was made by Thakambau, with the assistance of several European settlers. This was an attempt to form a Government for the whole group, and delegates of both races were invited to meet m congress "m order to discuss and. form a Constitution for the "Kingdom 1 of Fiji," and draw up regulations and conditions under which the Government of the kingdom should be carried on. The House of Delegates, having performed its. function, was dismissed. Returning officers were appointed, and writs were issued for tfte election of members to serve m the Legislative Assembly of Fiji. The elections were duly carried out, and the first Fijian Parliament. met m 1871. (Mr. James Stewart Butters, who had represented Portland m the Legislative Assembly, of Victoria, was elected Speaker.) . Constitution Act. The Constitution Act, framed by the House of Delegates, provided for a Government of the whole group and the establishment ,of a Constitution from and after October 1, 1871; It provided' that the form of - government should be executive, legislative, and judicial. The exer ' ; cutive to, consist of the King and the Ministry; the legislature of a Privy Council and House of Representatives. The judicial side was invested m a Supreme Court, consisting of a Chief Justice and' two associate Judges, one to be a native, whose decisions were; final. Charles St. Julian, law reporter, "Sydney V-Morn ing HerakJ," . and Consul for* Fiji at Sydney, was the first Chief Justice. The Privy Council was composed of the native Governors of the . provinces into which the Constitution Act directed that the kingdom should be divided. The House of Representatives was formed of members returned by the electoral districts proclaimed, throughout the islands. All measures passed by the Representatives were to be submitted to the Privy Council, 'which had not, however, the power of veto. Measures disapproved of were simply returned. .The number of members was fixed at not less than 20, nor more than 40. Six months' residence, payment of taxes, and twenty-one years of age qualified for a voting right. This system proved cumbrous, and placed all . the power m the hands of the Palefaces. The Assembly and the Ministry were constantly at loggerheads; each session was taken up by the efforts of the Opposition to cross the vfloor and occupy the G6vernment benches. Matters soon came to a crisis through the: King refusing to. accept the resignation of Ministers who had been "constitutionally defeated" by a large majority, and the Assembly was dissolved m the middle of 1873. . Annexation by Britain happened a few months later, x