Page "Colonial Fiji" Paragraph 10

These steps towards self-rule were welcomed by the Indo-Fijian community, which by that time had come to outnumber the native Fijian population.

Fearing Indo-Fijian domination, many Fijian chiefs saw the benevolent rule of the British as preferable to Indo-Fijian control, and resisted British moves towards autonomy.

By this time, however, the United Kingdom had apparently decided to divest itself of its colonial empire, and pressed ahead with reforms.

The Fijian people as a whole were enfranchised for the first time in 1963, when the legislature was made a wholly elective body, except for 2 members out of 36 nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs.

1964 saw the first step towards responsible government, with the introduction of the Member system.

Specific portfolios were given to certain elected members of the Legislative Council.

They did not constitute a Cabinet in the Westminster sense of the term, as they were officially advisers to the colonial Governor rather than ministers with executive authority, and were responsible only to the Governor, not to the legislature.

Nevertheless, over the ensuing three year, the then Governor, Sir Francis Derek Jakeway, treated the Members more and more like ministers, to prepare them for the advent of responsible government.