LIFE IN FIJI

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21559, 23 January 1940, Page 6

LIFE IN FIJI

Highly Prosperous Island Ex-Timaru Man’s Impressions Life is very pleasant in ' s ji and the island is highly prosperous. Mr Walter Wallace, who is visiting Tiiriru after a residence of nearly 30 years in Fiji, informed a “Tima - .. Herald” reporter yesterday. Mr Wallace is a Timaru boy who received his early education here aj.d se -ed his apprenticeship as - chemist with Timaru pharmacists. Since leav ; ng the Dominion he has beei. engaged in hospital work in Fiji, the last 20 years, at Ba, on the no th-west coast.

Progress in introducing modern amenities into . '.i has been very rapid. Mr Wallace said. When he first visited the island the only means of communication was taint on horseback or walking, which as very rduous on tl ' rough mountain roads. Witl-in the last few years first class motor roads following the co? c t have been constructed right arou.id the island, enabling a motor-bus service to set out daily from Suva in opposite directions for Lautoka. a great sugar growing centre on the opposite coast. The round trip offers a wide variety of beautiful scenery, from the mountains and forests of tl.e rainy east to the grasslands of the drier west. KCr Wallace estimate ’ that the European population of Fiji was about 5000. whx e T ndians numbered 90.000 and natives 100.000. While there was a large European population in the capital, Suva. iere w’pre als» three Euronean centres i- the north, in the rich Tavua gold-mining centre, and at Penang. With their golf courses, tennis and cricket clubs, the white popula tion had ample opportunities for socl-J activities and practically af them possessed motor cars. fht planting and growing in the prosperous suga industry of Fiji is carried out almost wholly by Indians, Englishmen giving expert advice on culture and manuring. In the gold-mining i* clustry mostly Fijian native labour was ei, ployed. Another industry which is making good headway is piner pple growing, for whi'h a new factory was opened nt Nautoka on f ’e .est coast recently. Effect of War Th? declaration of war had had no noticeable effect on Fiji up to the present. Mr Wallace continued. The defence force has been strengths and compulsory training introduced for all Europeans between the ages of 18 and 25. In ‘he north, however, com pulsion was a dead letter, as practically all Europeans mlisted voluntarily with the ter ’torials. The Indians and natives have also pro”id most loyal and have responded wholeheartedly to the appeal of the Government to grow more foodstuffs n case of a shortage.

Mr Wallace drew attention to an article in a Suva newspaper ihich stated that the military’ siren "th of Fiji had jeen greatly increased since the outbreak of war, one of the rations being a new battalion of life 'try based on Tuvua, Ea and Lautoka, raised in accordance with plans prepared before th war. Trained personnel to act as ing.iuctors and a proportion of arms and equipment hr.d been made available from other parts of the Empire. “The unit is composed partly of youn men who are called up for training by the la of the ( lony and partly of volunteers of more mature y ars,” the article continued. “The voluntary response ha been magnificent and. in consequence, there is a ery high standard of keenness.”

Education in Fiji was well pnvided for, Mr Wallace continued. In Suva there is a Grammar U. h. for Europeans together with a number of primary schools fnr natives and Indian.:. At Lautoka theie is a te’chers’ training college for natives and Indfc 3 conducted b, an ex-New Zealander.

In the southern part of the island, west of Suva, is a thriving dairy industry. Mr Wallace said. The climate is suitable to cattle raising, and practically all the butter consumed on the island comes from home factories. Before leading on his present holiday, Mr Wallace saw some New Zealand butteon the ms rket. Mr Wallace has purchased four small islands off the north of Fiji, where he intends eventually to settle. Here he is looking forward to carrying on his hobby of collectin and planting tropical plants and trees from parts of the world.