It was during World War I that an ambitious development plan called the Fiji Million League was mooted.
The league provoked a great deal of interest in the colony, especially because of its take on enhancing socio-economic benefits for Fiji.
According to an article in The Fiji Times in November, 1915, the body was to secure a million dollars in loan money for viable “internal development” that would be needed straight after the war.
Also, there were plans to secure the “early opening up and settlement” of a million areas of land and to “increase Fiji exports by one million pounds sterling”.
Part of the seven-point grand plan of the Fiji Million League was also to gradually “raise the colony’s population to one million souls”.
“To create a public outlook that thinks in millions; to replace parochialism by nationalism and imperialism; to bring about a spirit of unity in all matters affecting the growth and development of the colony.”
The Fiji Times explained the league’s objectives.
During a meeting to form the league, it was decided that the policy document on the Fiji Million League be advertised overseas so that “the most prolific islands in the world” could be appreciated by those in search of “new homes and superior prospects”.
“The spirit of the ‘million’ effort is this to produce a large perspective for the colony and its people.
The work has no finale, because as soon as the million objective in any particular direction is achieved, the next million becomes the objective,” this paper said.
“The ‘million’ idea is undoubtedly a good one, a big one, calculated to create a big mind, a big heart and a big purpose in a people …
The secret’s success, it is recognised by the movers, is constancy to set purpose and the steady pursuit of a clear objective.”
In providing a summary of the Fiji Million League’s agenda, The Fiji Times noted the initiative was to “progress upon the public imagination, and impressing particularly the rising generation” with the truth that the aim in life is continued progress.
Many of those Fiji Million League objectives have already been achieved. One of those that is yet to be attained is the raising of Fiji’s population to “one million souls”.
