HC Deb 16 March 1961 vol 636 c1736
28. Mr. LI. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals he has in mind for bringing unused land into use and for establishing new industries in Fiji.

Mr. H. Fraser

With regard to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, the declaration of reserves is being accelerated and the Land Reserve Commissioners are concentrating on areas best suited to development so that land may be made available for long-term leases at the earliest possible date. Proposals for a Land Development Authority are in draft and increased funds are being made available for agricultural loans.

With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) on 31st January.

Mr. Williams

Is the Minister aware of the substantial opinion in this country and indeed in Fiji that the recommendations of the Burns Commission which are being implemented are the minor ones and that the major one—the bringing of unused land into use, the establishment of new industries, and the recasting of the Fijian Administration—are not being implemented and that the latter are obviously the important ones?

Mr. Fraser

I must disagree. I think that what are being implemented are of great importance—the development of land, the development of industry and also these new long leases and other improvements in addition to improvements inside the Administration. I believe that these are very important recommendations. The last thing we want to create is violent hostility between the Indian and the Fijian population.