Colony of Fiji
Colony of Fiji iTikotiko vakaitikotiko e Viti ( Fiji Hindi ) | |||||||||
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1874–1970 | |||||||||
Motto: Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui Fear God and honour the Queen | |||||||||
Anthem: God Save the King/Queen | |||||||||
Status | British colony | ||||||||
Capital | Levuka (1874–1877) Suva (1877–1970) | ||||||||
Common languages | English, iTaukei (Fijian), Fiji Hindi, Rotuman | ||||||||
Government | Constitutional monarchy | ||||||||
Monarch | |||||||||
• 1874–1901 | Victoria | ||||||||
• 1901–1910 | Edward VII | ||||||||
• 1910–1936 | George V | ||||||||
• 1936 | Edward VIII | ||||||||
• 1936–1952 | George VI | ||||||||
• 1952–1970 | Elizabeth II | ||||||||
Governor | |||||||||
• 1874–1875 | Sir Hercules Robinson | ||||||||
• 1968–1970 | Sir Robert Sidney Foster | ||||||||
Chief Minister | |||||||||
• 1967–1970 | Sir Kamisese Mara | ||||||||
Legislature | Legislative Council | ||||||||
History | |||||||||
• Established | 10 October 1874 | ||||||||
• Independence | 10 October 1970 | ||||||||
Currency | Fijian pound (1874–1969) Fijian dollar (1969–1970) | ||||||||
ISO 3166 code | FJ | ||||||||
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Today part of | Fiji |
History of Fiji |
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Early history |
Modern history |
Coup of 2000 |
Proposed Reconciliation Commission |
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Crisis of 2005–2006 |
Coup of 2006 |
The Colony of Fiji was a Crown colony that existed from 1874 to 1970 in the territory of the present-day nation of Fiji. London declined its first opportunity to annex the Kingdom of Fiji in 1852. Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau had offered to cede the islands, subject to being allowed to retain his Tui Viti (King of Fiji) title. His demand was unacceptable to both the British and to many of his fellow chiefs, who regarded him only as first among equals, if that. Mounting debts and threats from the United States Navy had led Cakobau to establish a constitutional monarchy with a government dominated by European settlers in 1871, following an agreement with the Australian Polynesia Company to pay his debts. The collapse of the new regime drove him to make another offer of cession in 1872, which the British accepted. On 10 October 1874, Britain began its rule of Fiji, which lasted until 10 October 1970.[1][2][3][4]
"Fiji for the Fijians"
Sir Hercules Robinson, who had arrived on 23 September 1874, was appointed as interim Governor. He was replaced in June 1875 by Sir Arthur Gordon. Rather than establish direct rule in all spheres, Gordon granted autonomy over local affairs to Fiji's chiefs, though they were now forbidden to engage in tribal warfare. The colony was divided into four regions, each under the control of a Roko; these regions were further subdivided into twelve districts, each ruled by a traditional chief. A Great Council of Chiefs was established in 1876 to advise the Governor. This body remained in existence until being suspended by the Military-backed interim government in 2007 and abolished in 2012. Under the 1997 Constitution, it functioned as an electoral college that chose Fiji's President, Vice-President, and 14 of the 32 Senators. In its early days, the Great Council was supplemented by a Native Regulation Board (now the Fijian Affairs Board); these two bodies together made laws for the Fijians. (European settlers, however, were not subject to its laws). In 1882, the capital was moved from Levuka to the more accessible Suva.
Adopting a "Fiji for the Fijians" policy, Gordon prohibited further sales of land, although it could be leased. This policy has been continued, hardly modified, to this day, and some 83 percent of the land is still natively owned. He also banned the exploitation of Fijians as labourers, and following the failure of the cotton-growing enterprise in the early 1870s, Gordon decided in 1878 to import indentured labourers from India to work on the sugarcane fields that had taken the place of the cotton plantations. The 463 Indians arrived on 14 May 1879—the first of some 61,000 that were to come before the scheme ended in 1916. The plan involved bringing the Indian workers to Fiji on a five-year contract, after which they could return to India at their own expense; if they chose to renew their contract for a second five-year term, they would be given the option of returning to India at the government's expense or remaining in Fiji. The great majority chose to stay. The Queensland Act, which regulated indentured labour in Queensland, was made law in Fiji also.
Fiji in the First World War
Fiji was only peripherally involved in the
Citing unwillingness to exploit the Fijian people, the colonial authorities did not permit Fijians to enlist. One Fijian of chiefly rank, a great-grandson of Cakobau's, did join the French Foreign Legion, however, and received the French military decoration, the Medalle Militaire. Sukuna later served with 100 other Fijians of the Fiji Labour Corps which served in a logistics role in France and Italy. In the years that followed, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, as he was later known, established himself as a leading chief in Fiji and set up institutions that safeguarded native Fijian land rights.
Fiji in the Second World War
When the
The Empire of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, on 8 December 1941 (Fiji time), marked the beginning of the Pacific War. Japanese submarines launched seaplanes that flew over Fiji; Japanese submarine I-25 on 17 March 1942 and Japanese submarine I-10 on 30 November 1941.
Because of its central location, Fiji was selected as a
The development of political institutions
A Legislative Council, initially with advisory powers, had existed as an appointed body since 1874, but in 1904 it was made a partly elective body, with European male settlers empowered to elect 6 of the 19 Councillors. 2 members were appointed by the colonial Governor from a list of 6 candidates submitted by the Great Council of Chiefs; a further 8 "official" members were appointed by the Governor at his own discretion. The Governor himself was the 19th member. The first nominated Indian member was appointed in 1916; this position was made elective from 1929. A four-member Executive Council had also been established in 1904; this was not a "Cabinet" in the modern sense, as its members were not responsible to the Legislative Council.
After the
These steps towards self-rule were welcomed by the
Responsible government
A constitutional conference was held in London in July 1965, to discuss constitutional changes with a view to introducing responsible government. Indo-Fijians, led by A. D. Patel, demanded the immediate introduction of full self-government, with a fully elected legislature, to be elected by universal suffrage on a common voters' roll. These demands were vigorously rejected by the ethnic Fijian delegation, who still feared loss of control over natively owned land and resources should an Indo-Fijian dominated government come to power. The British made it clear, however, that they were determined to bring Fiji to self-government and eventual independence. Realizing that they had no choice, Fiji's chiefs decided to negotiate for the best deal they could get.
A series of compromises led to the establishment of a cabinet system of government in 1967, with
See also
- Kingdom of Fiji
- Monarchy of Fiji
- History of Fiji
- Fiji during the time of Cakobau
- Military history of the British Commonwealth in the Second World War
References
- ^ Sarah Searight, "The British Acquisition of Fiji" History Today (Nov 1972), pp 806–813, online
- ^ William D. McIntyre, "Disraeli's colonial policy: The creation of the Western Pacific High Commission, 1874–1877." Historical Studies: Australia and New Zealand 9#35 (1960): 279–294.
- ^ Owen Parnaby, "Aspects of British policy in the Pacific: The 1872 pacific islanders protection act, " Historical Studies: Australia and New Zealand 8#29 (1957) pp 54-65 https://doi.org/10.1080/10314615708595097
- ^ Paul Knaplund, "Sir Arthur Gordon and Fiji: Some Gordon-Gladstone Letters." Historical Studies: Australia and New Zealand 8#31 (1958) pp 281–296.
- ^ Kaplan, Martha; Kelly, John (2001). Represented communities: Fiji and world decolonization. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.