Talk On Fiji

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 September 1950, Page 9

Talk On Fiji

“The international afternoons have been arranged because the Y.W.C.A. throughout the world feels that, by a knowledge of other countries and people, their ways of life and a recognition of the nearness of one country to another, we may come to have a better understanding of one another’s difficulties." said Mrs M. LNutt, when speaking of a trip to Fiji and aspects of the racial problem, at the Y.W.C.A. international afternoon on Wednesday. The nearness of Fiji is evident by the flight by plane. When she made, the trip, the plane left Auckland at 7.30 a.m. and reached Suva at 3.30. In the past two months the trip has been cut down by another 2J hours since the Solents went into service. Mrs. Nutt said she went to Fiji to visit her brother, who has lived there for 20 years and taken an active part in the 'development and policy of the country. Suva is the capital—a picturesque town with a strange mixture of races and creeds. It is the seat ot Parliament and is situated on the largest island of the group, Viti Levu, but Fiji actually consists of 250 islands, some, of course,"very, small.

The speaker said she stayed most of the time on Vanua Levu, the second biggest island in the group, a place that has grown up because of the large sugar mills there, the suitability for sugar-cane growing and copra production. In giving an account of a visit to the sugar refinery, Mrs Nutt said tljcy conducted the whole process at night as the heat, even in mid-win-ter, was considered too great. The machinery in the mills was highly modern. The natives who go on shift at midnight slept between the machines, ready for work. They do this because of a native superstition. They did not wish to come from their jungle homes at night. She was greatly impressed with the beauty of the flowers, the hibiscus of many, many colours—hedges of them, and poinsettias witln their flame-coloured flowers. There were also palms everywhere, both the coconut and banana palms being very beautiful. The hibiscus flowers are rarely used with their own foliage, but are threded on fibres from the palms or fixed on lemon spikes. The double ones are used on tables, just as a cascade of pink flowers, no vases or foliage. She found the food refreshingly different, and realised she had never before really tasted bananas. Mrs Nutt told of being entertained in an Indian home, where special Indian food was prepared for them by the mother and daughters, who also served it, but only the men of the household ate with the guests. The speaker gave an account of the life and customs of the Indians in Fiji and referred to the racial troubles. The infant, mortality rate was high among the Fijians. There was also t.b., particularly with the children. A campaign had been launched and £3OOO raised in two months. ,The hospitals are staffed mostly by New Zea-land-trained nurses, and have to run on three separate lines and three separate quarters, as what health customs apply to one race do not apply to the other. The Indians insist on all relations coming with the patient and even at the maternity hospital quite a few relations stay all the time with the mother and baby. The speaker said she visited the various schools, which are examined by the New Zealand Education Department, and an Indian school governed by the Church of England. The most outstanding person she met was Lieut.-Col,. the Hon. Rabu Sir Lala Sukuna. He and his wife. Lady Mana, live in a lovely European home overlooking Suva harbour, where there are all sorts of treasures belonging to both races. Of special interest to Wanganui folks, is that he was educated at the Wanganui Collegiate School about the years 1905 to 1909. He was greatly interested in talking about Wanganui with Mrs Nutt. She said he remembers the museum in the old building which is now the Savage Club, and Durie Hill without a lift. Mrs. Nutt was thanked for her interesting talk. Louvainne Jenkins and Mary Rush played a pianoforte duet.