No statistics

Professor Donald Cochrane of Monash University, who arbitrated in the Qantas dispute, has recently awarded wage increases of between 2d. and 4d. to the airport workers. This has resulted in stop-work protests, and strong denunciations by both Tora and Anthony. The latter was staging a sit-in protest at Monash University against the decision. Professor Cochrane stated that with sugar prices low and with unemployment rising there are too many unknowns in the current economic situation in Fiji to suggest a higher figure.

During this arbitration the Financial Secretary of Fiji, Mr. J. Ritchie, admitted that no statistics were kept of the amount of money leaving Fiji from direct investments made largely by Australians. Nor was any reference made to Fiji's outmoded and inefficient fiscal system, nor to such absurdities as the high import bills paid out for rice, beef, cereals and, of all things, fish.

Whether militant unionism in itself will ever force the structural changes needed in the Fijian economy is debatable. Further industrial upheaval is probably inevitable until the political leadership begins to tackle unpalatable issues—hitherto sacrosant questions, such as traditional land ownership, provided the emergent labour force will of necessity be directed to such sectors as agriculture. Taxation of foreign investment, a far better developed statistical service, particularly in relation to cost of living indices, and a greater direct encouragement to the growth of the unions themselves, must also rank high on any list of priorities aimed at future industrial peace in Fiji.