Rotuma: The Changing Nature of Customary Authorities: A Discussion On Customs Changing In Changing Circumstances

Abstract

This note concerns circumstances for the acceptance or rejection of proposals for change in Rotuman traditional authorities. It takes as a base line the traditional socio-geographical divisions, customary authorities, and customary land and other rights as generally recognised and accepted in Rotuma in the mid-1960s. It considers these matters in the context of the legendary past, the times of early European reported contact, and of the period leading up to the present decade. Though no island-wide central authority is recognised nowadays, such authorities, both secular and spiritual, once existed but were suppressed or made redundant through missionary influence or the British Colonial Government authorities. Though the non-traditional elective principle has been introduced with respect to half the number of voting members of the statutory Rotuma Island Council, traditional authority is still recognised through the district chiefs who ex officio comprise the other half. Such changes have been generally accepted. On the other hand, attempts by the Colonial Government to change the basis of customary land tenure were firmly rejected as too radical and disadvantageous to those with customary rights to land use.