Fiji's dollar series replaced the pound in 1969 following decimalisation, making this 1971 note an early entry in that transition. The Government of Fiji — rather than a central bank — remained the note-issuing authority until the Reserve Bank of Fiji was established in 1984, which is why these carry a direct government obligation rather than a banking institution's promise to pay.
De La Rue's involvement here is unremarkable for the region; they printed for much of the British Pacific at this period. The Barrett and Stinson signatures identify this as a specific secretary/financial secretary pairing within the colonial civil service, useful for precise dating within the 1971 issue window.
Fiji's dollar series replaced the pound in 1969 following decimalisation, making this 1971 note an early entry in that transition. The Government of Fiji — rather than a central bank — remained the note-issuing authority until the Reserve Bank of Fiji was established in 1984, which is why these carry a direct government obligation rather than a banking institution's promise to pay.
De La Rue's involvement here is unremarkable for the region; they printed for much of the British Pacific at this period. The Barrett and Stinson signatures identify this as a specific secretary/financial secretary pairing within the colonial civil service, useful for precise dating within the 1971 issue window.