Year: 1871

to be better fed and better puid than Fijiaus
or Tansa-men. they would he infinitely more SER
yioeable--much cheaper too, ! think upon the
whole. The duty Of regulating the introduction
of labor is one which is infinitely more pressing


Unless the Government turns its attention almost
immediately to the performance Of this duty, it
viii command but little respect or confidence
abroad, and will be thought mther weak at home.
There will be a keen waichfulness in a great
many quarters, Of all that it may do or fail 70 do
in this matter; and by its course Of action in con-
nechon Herewith, many very good aud inauen-
tisl people Judge Of its ability and trust-worihi-
ness. At present there is 10 governmental or
legislative protection Of labor The planter
may compel his men to keep deir contract, but
cannot be compelled to ful6ll his o,sn The labor
eFs are, as general rule. well treated. aud the
stipuations made at the time OF their engage
ment faithfully carried out, is due partly to the
fact that most Of the planters are honorable men,
and partly to the Influences Of general opinion
aud the advantage Of having good character
among the hborers themselves. The British
Consul is very careful in bis examination Of i'm
ported Islanders. and has promulgated some ex-
eellent regulations as to their treatment; bot he
has no power to enforce these regulations. Il is
necessary then that without the slightest avoid
able delay this subject should be dealt With IN
practical and comprehensive way. with a true
regard to the interests Of bothrplanters and labor
ers; and tina, there should be such precautions
by way Of governmental inspection or otherwise
-as will ensure obedience TO the law.


The framing and carrying Oui Of an efficient
system Of jurisprudence will probably be ioaud
the most difficult Of al The tasks which the Fjian
Government has upon It's hands. tis, no doubt,
work which caunot be completed at once, but
il is one which must be at once commenced.
And as the character aud stability Of a house
are mainly dependent upon the nature Of its icun-
dation, so will the future Of FJi--its peace, its
attractiveness, its commercial prosperity and the
social harmony Of its people-be mainly depend
ent upon the fundamental principles which may
be laid down at the outset, as those by which the
Fjian Government will be guided in the perform
anee Of this great duty. II has the inestimable
advantage Of a clear field. There are no eumber-
statutes to be repealed, no conflicting juris-
dictions to be reconciled, no professional vested
interests to be struggled against no time-hon0red
complications to be unraveled or teehnealities to
be swept away. II then, :he FJian Government
and the Legislature cannot, under such favorable
circumstances, agree upon the basis Of a code Of
laws, and upon the principles whereby the admin
isiration Of such laws is to be governed. all that
has yet been accomplished will have been in vain
What is necessary to be done-and what, ere FIJI
can fairly demand international recognition, must
be done-is that there should be not only laws
and legal machinery for the protection Of persons
and property, the preservation Of order and the
effective punishment Of eyil-doers, bat for ths
prompt recovery Of Just debts and claims; that
such laws shall be clear and simple so that any
one may understand them that there shall b. an
equal simplicity 10 the mode Of their administrs-
ton. and that justice shall be 50 cheap as to be
within the reach Of ALL In short, that avoiding
those legal mysiifcatOns and technieaities, which
in the hands of professional men so often land
Justice astray, there shall be no wrong without
prompt aud effective remedy.