On Tuesday, April 6, 1976, The Fiji Times published the following articles:
Hotels face questions on profit rise
Fiji hotels and duty-free dealers were asked yesterday by the Governor-General, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, to explain why their earnings have still risen while tourist traffic has fallen.
Opening the Fiji Tourism Convention at the Regent Hotel, Nadi, he said that in 1974, tourist traffic had dropped 2.8 per cent but earnings from tourists had risen by 22 per cent to a record $60,500,000.
Ratu Sir George said he wondered whether the figures indicated “charges being pushed up too much – with a consequent effect on 1975?”
He noted that duty-free dealers had taken 47 per cent of the total earnings and hotels 35 per cent.
The earnings of the dealers had risen by 30 per cent and those of hotels by 21 per cent.
“I feel sure the duty-free dealers and the hoteliers have very good explanations for this and that the convention would like to hear what their spokesman have to say,” he said.
Ratu Sir George told nearly 400 delegates from the Pacific region that last year’s decline in tourist traffic was “not all that serious.”
Conciliation to start in oil dispute
Conciliation proceedings aimed at ending a four-day strike by oil workers’ at Lautoka and in Suva will begin in Suva today.
The Government’s principal labour officer, Mr Om Prakash Singh, is the conciliator.
The Secretary for Labour Mr Satyanand said he had accepted notices of the dispute between the three oil companies and the Fiji Oil and Allied Workers’ Union.
The union is seeking a 31 per cent wage increase for its members and the oil companies — British Petroleum, Shell and Mobil, have offered a nine per cent increase.
Oil workers, who now receive a basic wage of $1.10 an hour, are believed to be among the most highly paid wage-earners in Fiji.
Yesterday a few service stations were selling petrol and deliveries were made to essential services such as hospitals and the Suva Fire Brigade.
No decision yet on N-protest
Fiji is still considering a possible protest to the French Government after France’s latest underground nuclear test at Mururoa Atoll.
The Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Jioji Kotobalavu, said yesterday the question of a Fiji protest had not been decided yet.
“It will have to be decided,” he said.
However, Fiji would continue to object at the United Nations and would raise its objections at such forums as disarmament talks.
Conference urged over YWCA split
An original member of the YWCA in Fiji, Mrs Susan Parkinson, has suggested holding a conference of YWCA boards and members to resolve a division between the Suva YWCA board and staff.
Mrs Parkinson, former chairman of the YWCA building committee, said yesterday she was concerned about the division between the board and staff, and with its effect on the spirit and service of the Community Resource Centre.
They recently went on stop-work protest against the “management-employee” relationship which they said the board had adopted towards them.
Mrs Parkinson said she recalled that the main purpose of the YWCA Community Resource Centre in Suva for which almost $750,000 was raised, was to be open at all times to all sections of the population and all shades of opinions.
Betham to defend his title in Suva
The first Commonwealth title fight to be staged in Fiji was announced yesterday by millionair property owner Bob Jones, Monty Betham’s manager.
Mr Jones yesterday agreed that Betham would defend his Commonwealth middleweight boxing title against Fiji champion Jone Mataitini in the first week of June in Suva.
Yesterday the secretary of the Professional Boxing and Wrestling Association of Fiji Mumtaz Ali, talked Jones into staging the title fight in Suva.
It was originally to be in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Jones told the Fiji Times yesterday that it would be the biggest thing to happen in Fiji’s boxing history.
“I believe that as Fiji is part of the Commonwealth, its champion should be given the chance to challenge the champion,” he said.
“Betham has already beaten Mataitini — on points in 1974 — and has spoken very highly of his ability.”
Waiyavi keeps unbeaten record
Waiyavi kept up its unbeaten run in the Lautoka men’s hockey competition with a 4-0 defeat of Mrist on Sunday after a surprise match.
Marist ran out of stamina in the later stages, allowing Waiyavi to pile in the goals. The first half was scoreless.
The absence of leading players was the chief reason for Marist’s loss.
Fromer Waiyavi captain James Pickering, who had just made a comeback, scored two and Gabriel Tuilawa and Mahe Lilo socred one goal each.
Queensland loses at Lautoka
The Fiji President’s XI easily beat Queensland in a 40 overs cricket match at Churchill Park, Lautoka on Sunday.
It was the opening match of the Queensland tour of Fiji.
Fiji batted first and was all out for 230.
Savenaca Aria of Nadi, top scored with 74 runs, including five sixes.
Other good scores came from Muspratt with 63 runs, McErlich 30, Waqatabu 22 and Inoke Veiyali 11.
The rest of the Fiji batsmen failed to make double figures.
