Fijian landowners blocked the new Labasa-Tabia railway with rocks and tree trunks because of a dispute over “goodwill” payments.
This was reported by this newspaper on Tuesday July 5, 1977.
According to the report, the landowners claimed the Native Land Trust Board promised them $6000 after they had given their consent for the construction of the new nine-mile railway linking Labasa with the new Seaqaqa sugar cane estate.
The men held up a Fiji Sugar Corporation diesel locomotive sent to pick up about 50 loaded trucks of cane.
Police intervened and persuaded the landowners to remove the blockade.
The first sugar train got through at about 4pm.
A spokesman for the men Mr Letia Sadrumu told the Fiji Times at Labasa the NLTB had promised the money two years ago but had not paid it so far.
“In May a delegation from the nine mataqalis saw the NLTB manager at Labasa, Mr Nimia Drauna, who promised us we would be paid at the end of June,” Mr Sadrumu said.
“We did not receive the money as promised.”
Mr Sadrumu said the landowners agreed to clear the line only after assurances they would be paid this week.
Mr Drauna said the men would receive the money either tomorrow or the next day.
