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1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

885/25

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

11036

(No. 14.)

2222232

No. 9.

FIJI.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 28th February, 1917.)

SIR,

Government House, Suva, Fiji, 22nd January, 1917. I HAD the honour to receive on the 10th November last Mr. Bonar Law's Circular despatch of the 25th September, 1916,* inviting my attention to the "Recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies" in regard to the commercial and industrial policy to be adopted by the Allied Governments after the War, and calling for a considered statement of the views of this Government on the recommendations of the Conference and on the questions submitted to the Committee which has been appointed by the Prime Minister.

2. I received also on the 9th ultimo Mr. Bonar Law's further Circular despatch of the 24th October last,† explaining the form in which it was desired that the views of this Government should be conveyed.

3. I had communicated previously to the Chambers of Commerce of Suva and Levuka copies, with its enclosure, of Mr. Bonar Law's Circular despatch of the 14th August last, and the Chambers were sent, therefore, in a letter dated the 21st November last, copies of Mr. Bonar Law's Circular despatch of the 25th September last,* and their observations were invited. The despatch and enclosure were published also in the Gazette for general information.

4. From the enclosed copies of letters received from the Secretaries of the two Chambers of Commerce it will be seen that the results of the deliberations of those two bodies are not very illuminating, but they are helpful as showing that His Majesty's Government can rely on the cordial support of the commercial section of the population if its trade policy after the War is conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies.

5. In order, however, that there might be placed before you something more tangible and informative than is contained in the letters from the two Chambers of Commerce, I appointed, in accordance with the advice of the Executive Council at a meeting held on the 5th instant, the Colonial Secretary, the Acting Receiver- General, Mr. H. M. Scott, K.C., President of the Suva Chamber of Commerce and Elected Member of the Legislative Council for the Suva Division, Mr. J. M. Hedstrom, Senior Elected Member of the Legislative Council, and Mr. G. B. Sheridan, Manager of the Suva Branch of the Bank of New South Wales, to be a committee to consider and report on the special position of Fiji with reference to the commercial and industrial policy to be adopted by the Imperial Government after the War.

6.

I now enclose, for your consideration. the Committee's report, which deals, I think, sufficiently exhaustively with the position so far as this Colony is con- cerned. With the terms of the report I concur, but I desire to add to it the following recommendations :-

(a) That the importation into Fiji of all goods the product or manufac- ture of the Powers now at war with Great Britain and her Allies should be prohibited absolutely for not less than twenty-five years; (b) That no alien enemy should be naturalized in Fiji until he has resided

continuously in the Colony for not less than twenty years; and

(c) That no alien enemy should ever be allowed to acquire and hold in the

Colony any description of property, whether personal or real.

I have, &c.,

BICKHAM ESCOTT,

DEAR SIR,

33

Enclosure 1 in No. 9.

Suva Chamber of Commerce,

Suva, Fiji, 5th December, 1916. I AM directed by the President of this Chamber to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 3549/8766/1916, dated the 21st November.

At a meeting of my Chamber held this day the following resolution was unanimously carried

"That this Chamber strongly supports the recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies, and that it awaits with interest the report of the Commercial and Industrial Policy Committee, and trusts that the result of the deliberations of that body will consolidate the trade of the Empire and make it more completely self-supporting."

I am instructed to add that the matter is being further considered by the members of my Chamber, and I may take the liberty of addressing you further on the matter should there be any special points to which my Chamber wishes to call your attention.

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary,

Suva.

DEAR SIR,

Yours faithfully,

HARRY HART-LEWIS,

Secretary.

Enclosure 2 in No. 9.

Suva Chamber of Commerce,

Suva, Fiji, 22nd December, 1916. REFERRING to your letter dated 12th December, No. 3836/9505/16, I beg to inform you that the recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies were further discussed at a meeting of my Chamber held this day, and it was unanimously resolved to add nothing further to the resolution already forwarded you.

I am to convey to His Excellency my Chamber's thanks for the courtesy extended.

The Honourable

SIR,

The Colonial Secretary, Suva.

I am, Sir,

Yours faithfully,

HARRY HART-Lewis,

Secretary.

Enclosure 3 in No. 9.

Levuka Chamber of Commerce,

Levuka, Fiji, 23rd December, 1916.

I AM directed by my Chamber to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21st ultimo, No. 3549/8766/16, on the subject of the commercial and industrial policy to be adopted throughout the Empire on the conclusion of the War.

2. My Chamber have pleasure in stating that they are entirely in accord with the Recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies," and I am further to add that any policy which has in view the consolidation of the Empire has the warmest support of this Chamber.

I have, &c.,

W. H. KELLY,

Secretary.

Governor.

The Honourable

No. 1.

† 45879: not printed.

89798: not printed.

The Colonial Secretary,

Suva.