Asiatics in Fiji

Interesting Experiment

Indians’ Economic Value

The development of the Crown Colony of Fiji by four distinct races—namely, Europeans, Fiji ans, Indians and Chinese —is one of the most interesting features of South Seas administration and is being closely watched because of its definite bearing upon the future of the Pacific Territories.

It is the policy of the Powers, which hold these Pacific Islands, to encour age the education of the indigenous races; but where that is not possible, the question of establishing a new race in the Islands —particularly an Asiatic race —becomes one of primary importance. Events in Hawaii and Tahiti, for instance, show clearly that Chinese and Japanese make admirable immigrants. The successful settle ment of the Indians in Fiji as peas ant farmers also has a direct bearing.

Is it the policy of Britain, there fore, to reserve the lands where an indigenous race is decreasing for settlement by white people; or should Asiatic immigration be encouraged?

If so, what particular Asiatic race should be introduced?

The annual report for 1930 of Sir Murchison Fletcher, Governor of Fiji, contains interesting sections bearing upon this important question. In re gard to population the Governor shows that the movement of popula tion in Fiji, between the census of 1921 and the end of 1930, has been as follows:

Further analysis of population sta tistics shows that the Fijian birth rate and the Indian birth-rate per 1,000 have increased in the last few years; but the fact remains that the Indians are now only 17,000 less in numbers than the Fijians, and their natural increase is more than twice as rapid. The death-rate among Fiji ans is only slightly less than the birth-rate, whereas the death-rate among the Indians is 12.3 per thous and, compared with a birth-rate of 36 per thousand. The number of marriages registered among Fijians is almost stationary, whereas the num ber of marriages among Indians has increased steadily from 174 in 192 5 to 1,926 in 1930. The significance of these figures need not be emphasised.

Fijians As Farmers.

The Fijians are employed as labour ers to only a limited extent. Under their tribal customs, supported by British law, they are all landowners and they remain essentially an agri cultural people dependent for their livelihood upon the cultivation of their own lands. They are skilled agriculturists and, although they generally use the simplest instru ments, their planting operations are very successful. The Governor makes this interesting note: “Apart from their agricultural pur suits many of the better educated Fijians occupy administrative and clerical positions in the Government service. Some have qualified as na tive medical practitioners and others as native stipendiary magistrates.

Others are employed as clerks and shop assistants in several of the larg er business houses. A few own and conduct their own stores and a con siderable number earn their living as masters, engineers or seamen on interinsular vessels or as carpenters and artisans.

The C.S.R. Plan.

Agriculture remains the main occu pation of the Indians. More than two thirds of the Indians derive their livelihood from the sugar industry, under the share farming and other systems devised by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. The company’s farm settlement scheme, for stabilis ing the Indian population on the land and thus ensuring a dependable sup ply of sugar cane, has been remark ably successful. The company’s far mer tenants hold 31,000 acres. In dian farmers now supply nearly 80 per cent, of the sugar cane crushed at the company’s mills.

In addition, the Indians in Fiji have settled down successfully to other occupations. There are over 1,000 Indian storekeepers and 784 licensed motor drivers. The driving of motor transport for hire in Fiji is now largely an Indian monopoly.

Generally speaking the Indians have settled down very peacefully in Fiji; they make industrious peasant far mers and their activity has added enormously to the per capita pro ductiveness of this prosperous colony.

The demand for repatriation has dwindled remarkably. In 1926 1,180 Indians were repatriated at their own wish, and since then the figures have been: 1927 977 1928 . . . 924 1929 546 1930 502

The Chinese

The Chinese in Fiji, while com paratively small in numbers are also

increasing rapidly. They are mostly storekeepers and tradesmen and, gen erally speaking, are very good citi zens.

Class.

Census Estimated Percentag 1921 21/12/30.

Increase Europeans 3,878 5,078 30.9 Half-castes 2,781 3,333 19.8 Fijians 84,475 92,189 9.1 Polynesian 1,564 1,828 16.8 Indians 60,634 75,117 23.8 Chinese 910 1,503 65.1 Rotumans 2,235 2,331 4.3 Others 789 1,197 53.3