Pleading with chiefs
THE following is the speech of His Excellency the Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon which was read to the chiefs at the meeting at Bau, in September 1875 after assuming his role as Governor. The speech was printed in The Fiji Times on Wednesday, November 10, 18
I BESEECH you, the chiefs, as well as all men, to help men in this great work, this useful work. If you are a chief cease from vacillation.
Let treacherous fighting and cannibalism cease, and the forcing of women to be married against their will, this is bad and leads men to the path which ends in fornication and many other great sins.
It is not my wish that your position, and respect due to you as chiefs, should be lessened, for I say it is of extreme importance that we all show proper reverence, and that respect be shown to all placed in authority over us, and that all people continue to pay proper reverence to their chiefs.
Deal graciously with your people and do not oppress them. If you do not love your own people and pursue not a spirit of uprightness towards them, how can oth- ers behave well towards you?
I now strongly entreat you to help me in the work of ruling the country. It is now profitable for me to say something of great moment to you chiefs.
I allude to the rivalry and jealousy amongst you. These two are causes of all trouble in Fiji. I beseech you to cease from this unprofitable conduct, so that we may work together.
If we are all pulling in a boat, and some pull forward and some pull backward, where will the boat and those that are in it get to?
Another matter I desire to speak about is respecting the magistrates whom I have appointed. I have faith in them. If such was not the case I should not have appointed them to their respective districts.
I say they are men of uprightness and good conduct, therefore you chiefs be of good mind, and assist them in your duties with all your might.
Another thing, pay attention to me and all those that are with me at Nasova. The magistrate will help you; if your minds are unsettled about anything, or you are troubled about some difficult questions go to them about it, they will assist you.
Another thing, man in Fiji say "why is this, there is no Native Affairs Department?" I tell you once for all I am going to take native affairs, I alone will do the work.
The law is equal to all men, whether chief or commoner, or those in the service of the Government; consider this well all of you. If any man is in trouble or suffers a grievous wrong, and it appears to him impossible to get redress or satisfaction through the ordinary channels of law, let him come to me or write to me at Nasova, I shall not refuse to hear his prayer. This I promise to every man in the country.
You, the Roko Tuis, and you, the Bulis, must not fatigue yourselves in travelling about your district. If any trouble springs up the Bulis must report, also report the births and deaths, report everything and let the Roko Tuis be informed of everything.
And you, the Roko Tuis must report to me monthly, and when any matter of consequence arises report to me on every opportunity, even daily.
Respecting the taxes, the present system will have to be carried out a little while longer, but presently another and entirely different system for the future will be enacted, similar to the following: A piece of land will be set apart in every district plantation, and shall be planted according to my directions and the produce thereof, when collected together shall be brought to the Government and purchased by the Government from the respective owners, and I shall fix the price.
This surplus over and above what the Government requires for taxes shall be sold by the owners as they may think fit.
Another thing you must do, clear paths and make roads, and if anyone dislikes to work, it shall be lawful for him to give money in lieu thereof. To be continued next week