Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 76

From the Fiji Times, June 30, 1900

From the Fiji Times, June 30, 1900.

Sir.—I shall feel obliged if you will allow me to submit some remarks on the letters on the subject of Federation with New Zealand, which appeared in your issues of the 23rd and 27th instant.

Mr. Sowden, in his letter, expresses a doubt as to whether page 16 an Island Council can be formed, and wishes to know how the revenue is to be raised for "the purpose," as he expresses it, "of financing the Federation, or our share of it." He also suggests that if we federate and have a local Council we shall have adult suffrage; and not the property franchise. With respect to the franchise, it will be necessary to discriminate between the Federal Parliament and the Local Council. In the former, the franchise will, doubtless, be exactly as it is in New Zealand at the present time; and why not? There, as here, we find a large coloured population. The addition of Fiji need not cause a change in the federal franchise, for it only means adding somewhat to the already existing coloured population of New Zealand who now possess the franchise. As to the Local Council, as at present advised, it seems to me that a franchise similar to that in force in Natal, where there are some 40,000 coolies, besides a huge native population, might be applied. As in Natal, I think the vote might be given to every male inhabitant who is possessed in his individual right of real property to the value of £50; or who is in receipt of rent from real property to the annual value of £10; or of an annual income from any source of £100. Such details as the duration of the Local Council, its composition, and the division of the colony into electoral districts, and the distribution of seats, need present no difficulty, and nothing is to be gained by discussion such details until the proper time comes to reduce them into practice.

For the present it should suffice to contemplate a Local Council of say 14 members, of whom 7 should be elected by say four electoral districts, which might consist of (1) Suva, including Rewa, Navua, and Kadavu—returning three members. (2) Viti Levu, including the Yasawas, but excluding Suva, Rewa, and Navua—returning two members. (3) Levuka, including, Taviuni, Lomai Viti, and Lau—returning one member. Vanua Levu—returning one member. They could not be adult franchise for this council, as Mr. Sowden appears to desire. The reason for this is supplied in the extract from Auckland Star, which he himself quotes in his letter. Referring to these Islands, the Star says: Their educational and mental limitations would forbid their being allowed representation in proportion to their number in a constitutional government." But while adult franchise for the Local Council is impracticable, there is no reason for page 17 refusing the franchise to every man, whatever may be his race, if he possesses the necessary property qualifications—if he possesses the material stake in the country which may fairly be regarded as a guarantee for the proper exercise of the franchise. But it may very well be that in discussing the terms and conditions of Federation it may appear that, inasmuch as Fiji will have members representing her in the Federal Parliament, she does not need a Local Council as well, any more than Auckland or Canterbury, or any other integral portion of New Zealand does. So long as conditions are contained in the Act of Federation safeguarding the right to continue coolie immigration, it may very well be that we shall not require a Local Council.

With respect to financing the Confederation, there will, of course, be a general revenue. There will be but one purse, from which such appropriations as may be necessary for the various portions of the federated colony will annually' be made when the federal estimates are passed. For instance, the federal estimates will annually contain an appropriation of several thousands of pounds for the prosecution of public works in Fiji, such as the construction of roads, the building of bridges and otherwise the opening up of the country to settlement, and this sum so appropriated will be applied by the local administration to the purposes for which it has been voted. There will be no more difficulty in appropriating moneys for the use of the province of Fiji than there is now in appropoiating the moneys required for the province of Auckland. Incidentally, it may be remarked that Auckland is no further from Suva than it is from Dunedin. And let it not be forgotten that the amounts appropriated by the Federal Parliament in. Fiji will not necessarily be limited by regard to the comparatively slender revenues which will at first be contributed by Fiji. When it becomes necessary for great public works, such as light railways, main trunk roads, bridges, etc., to be carried out for the development of the country, such works will not have to wait until the local revenue can bear the cost. They will, if the Federal Parliament determine on them, be carried out on the security, not of Fiji alone, but by the consolidated fund of the federation.

Mr. Lazarus and "Official" suggest that possibly we may be sufferers by adopting the New Zealand tariff, which, it is alleged, is the highest in Australasia. That, however, is not page 18 fairly stating the case, for our specific duties on boots, shoes, some articles of drapery, hats, and such like are very much heavier than the ad valorem duties on similar articles in New Zealand. Indeed, I think that it will be found on comparing the two tariffs, it is very much a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other. Both are far higher than it is to be hoped they will be in the not too distant future. But even if Fede-should cause us to pay slightly increased duties, that will surely be more than counterbalanced by the wealth which will be poured into the country by federation. If federation will bring the white settler here, as who doubts it will, there will come in his train the wealth we at present lack, and for every white inhabitant you may add £100 per annum to the value of the imports. Do not let us be scared from Federation by any such bugbear as increased tariff. A low tariff is a good thing to the consumer, but of what avail is it to have a low tariff and a country practically empty of reproductive settlement; and, as a matter of fact, while our country is empty, we yet have a very high tariff. Under federation, our tariff will be no higher and our country will be well settled.

Mr. Lazarus asks: "Does New Zealand want us?" He is surely answered in the words of Mr. Turner, when that gentleman aptly says: "Fiji is able to provide all the sugar, rice, coffee, tea, and spices required in New Zealand, and, were we federated with that colony, within three year's we would be actually producing the same." In Mr. Turner's words, Mr. Lazarus will also find the answer to his query whether New Zealand would risk inclusion in the great Australian Commonwealth by federating with us. Notwithstanding any suggestion to the contrary, I venture to think that the incorporation of a large and valuable tropical province would be regarded by New Zealand statesmen as of greater economic value than inclusion in the Australain Commonwealth. From the Commonwealth New Zealand has no material advantages to reap that cannot be obtained by reciprocity treaties, and she can, as she probably will, join the Commonwealth in an offensive and defensive alliance without becoming part thereof. "Official" is naturally anxious to know what is to become of him if we federate. He will, I imagine remain where he is, with the difference that he will be better off, in that he will, through the opening up of the country, and erection of public works, find a larger scope for his energies, and a wider field of page 19 action will be created for the various members of the large family of which he is the proud possessor.

Throughout all the letters under notice there seems a vein of anxiety lest Federation should endanger Indian immigration. As I have previously stated, danger to Indian immigration will be the trump card of the opponents of Federation. It is to be relied on to scare the supporters of Federation. "Modesty," for instance, writes: "coolie immigration would almost certainly be withdrawn," and Mr. Lazarus says: "if this be so Federation would be fatal to the best interests of the colony." But this withdrawal of coolie labor is an imaginary bugbear. There is no ground for supposing that anything of the kind would be done by the Indian Government merely because we federated with New Zealand. Nothing of the kind can happen, for, as I took care to point out in my previous letter, it must be made a condition precedent to Federation—a sine qua non of federating—that Indian immigration is to continue, and the right to employ colored labor freely is not to be in any way restricted or interfered with. If New Zealand won't have us on those terms, then we won't federate with her. If she accepts us on those terms and conditions, they cannot subsequently be broken, for they will be fundamental and unalterable articles of the constitution, and there will be no danger to fear as suggested. All who continue to contend to the contrary are merely making bald assertions, in supporting which they can advance no grounds. Assertion is no argument. If we argue for precedent there is no occasion for fear. As Mr. Lazarus himself points out Indian immigration continues in Natal, though it has had Representative Government since 1890.

For some years Natal has enjoyed Responsible Government but the Indian Government has not stopped immigration. Moreover, the Representative Government which existed there up to the establishment of Responsible Government was of the following nature: There was a Legislative body consisting of seven nominated and 24 elected members. Such a constitution differs little but in name from Responsible Government. But during the many years that almost free Government existed in Natal, Indian immigration continued, and indeed as I believe still continues under the present completely free and Responsible Government. It will thus be seen that when the serious allegation that Federation will endanger coolie page 20 immigration (put forward by the ill-disposed and by the timid) is examined, it is found that there is nothing in it. The Indian Government permits immigration to the French colonies of Martinique, Guadaloupe, and Guiana, to the Dutch colony of Guiana, and to the Danish colony of St. Croix, all in the West Indies (vide the schedule to the Indian Immigration Act 1883, passed by the Governor-General of India in Council.)

The French colonies have local elected Legislature and are represented in the French Parliament. I do not know the nature of the constitution of Dutch Guiana or of St. Croix. But of this I am certain, that if the Indian Government trusts their people to the democratic French Republicans and to Dutchmen, it will after Federation not hesitate to allow them to come to Fiji, merely because they will be controlled by statesmen in New Zealand instead of a statesman at the Colonial Office in England.

With respect to the native Fijians Mr. Lazarus asks: "Will the Imperial Government permit the natives to be governed other than at present?" and "what will the natives say to such a proposition?" The questions imply that Federation necessarily involves an immediate change in the present system of Native Government. But it does not at all follow that because New Zealand and Fiji federate there must, therefore, be a change in the system of native local government. On the contrary it seems to me that for some considerable time to come there would possibly be no need for any change in the system. Sir George O'Brien has introduced changes in the direction of individualizing the natives and easing down in some ways the tyranny of old customs, and no doubt the reforms he has adopted will in time make some modification of the present system advisable; but at first and for some time afterwards, the Federal Government would, I take it, so far as the natives are concerned, simply carry on in Fiji under the system now in vogue,—I am, etc.,

Humphry Berkeley.

Chambers, Suva,