The Fiji Times excerpts from October 1 to
October 1
THE Fijian Association is worried about the extent of native land which is lying idle and cannot be developed because of a lack of money. The association’s annual convention in Suva decided to approach the Government about the issue.
October 2
HALF the members of the Senate, Fiji’s Upper House, will end their terms of office this month. The sectors began three year terms when Fiji became independent in October 1970. The rest began six-year terms.
October 3
THE Emperor Gold Mining Company of Vatukoula in Fiji’s Western Division has reported a record profit of $678,199 for its financial year to June 30 as a result of a gold boom. The previous year, the company suffered a huge loss of $209,646.
October 4
A MINOR gold rush has begun in Fiji because of the high level to which the world gold price soared since it was cut free from the US dollar in 1972. Local prospectors have applied for licenses to reappraise the old Mt Kasi goldmine on Vanua Levu and gold bearing ores at Vuda and Waimanu River.
October 5
ONE of Fiji’s leading civil servants has announced his retirement from the Government after a row over his political links. He is secretary for Transport and Tourism, Tomasi Vakatora, 47, who has been with the Government since 1948.
October 6
A MAJOR new clash developed between the Prices and Incomes Board and the Fiji Trades Union Congress. The secretary of the FTUC spoke of a possible “rebellion” by the trade union body against the PIB’s policies.
October 8
MORE than 1650 people have migrated from Fiji to Canada since independence in 1970, according to figures from the Canadian Immigration Department. This is more than the total of Fiji immigrants to all other countries put together. A total of 721 people migrated in 1971, 636 in 1972 and 298 in the first half of 1973.
October 9
THE Governor-General, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, has warned the Fijian people against “copying things from overseas. He said “not everything that starts in the world outside Fiji is worth copying”.
October 10
THREE sisters died when a lorry hit them while they were on their way to school, a police spokesman confirmed.
October 11
GREED and selfishness could lead to disharmony in Fiji, the Governor-General, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, said. Ratu Sir George was opening a meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs for the first time since his appointment. He said it was wasteful for Fijians to take back their land, if they knew they were not going to cultivate it for their benefit and for the benefit of the country.
October 12
FIJI had to accept the fact that overseas investments here would increase, the Minister of Finance, Charles Stinson, said. He was speaking at the official opening of a branch of the Bank of New South Wales in Tavua – the first full banking service in the township.
October 13
FILM fans will pay less for theatre seats under a new Prices and Incomes Board order. And the PIB has fixed new profit margins for shoes and stationery which should result in cheaper goods in those lines.
October 15
THE Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, will leave for Belgium tomorrow for talks with the European Economic Community (Common Market), political observers said in Suva.
October 16
THE Prices and Incomes Board is yet to announce the prices of local flour and sharps as Flour Mills of Fiji Ltd entered its 29th day of suspended production.
October 17
WEARING a pink and white frock with white accessories, the Queen stepped out of a Qantas 707 jet while the Governor-General, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, waited at the eastern end of the airport.
October 18
THE Queen gave the Governor-General, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, a surprise gift just before she boarded a Qantas 707 jet at Nadi Airport after a private visit to Fiji. The gift was a silver cigarette case bearing the initials of her name – ER, for Elizabeth Regina, and was in a black box. Ratu Sir George said he was not expecting the gift.
October 19
REPRESENTATIVES of two Fiji trade union organisations walked out of a conference the National Economic Council called yesterday. The meeting was to discuss the third phase of the Government’s prices and incomes policy.
October 20
FIJI’S PM Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara would spend the weekend with Britain’s Minister for Agriculture, Joseph Godber, during a break in a meeting with European Economic Community (Common Market) leaders in Brussels. Mr Godber, who visited Fiji earlier in the year to study the sugar industry here, is handling Britain’s side of the sugar negotiations.
October 22
LOCAL people should not have to fear