§ 5. Mr. LI. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the increase in population in Fiji for each of the last five years; and what has been the increase in production in agriculture for each of these years.
§ Mr. H. FraserThe recorded increase in population each year has been just over 13,000. Reliable figures for agriculture show only the products exported from, and not those consumed in, Fiji.
§ Mr. LI. WilliamsIs the Under-Secretary aware that we can never hope that the economy of Fiji and similar territories will become viable and stable unless and until—I speak without offence—religious scruples are thrown overboard to ensure family planning in this and other under-developed territories?
§ Mr. FraserQuite apart from religious scruples, in fact there are family planning units working there. There is a very large area of land to be developed. The major report—that of the Burns Commission—shows that there is almost as much land in Fiji as in Jamaica, which sustains a far larger population than the 380,000 or 390,000 population of Fiji.