Suva Jury List.

Judge Explains Why Indians’

Names Not Included.

THE agitation for “common roll” rights is being continued by the Indian re sidents of Fiji.

The application, by Mr. N. B. Singh and Pundit Gurudayan, for the insertion of their names in the list of Suva jurors for the current year was refused by the Chief Justice, Mr. M. H. Anderson, at a sitting of the Fiji Supreme Court on June 14. The applicants pointed out that no members of the Indian community were included in the list of jurors.

The Chief Justice stated his reasons for the refusal of the application. He explained that, in Fiji, trial by a jury, either in civil or criminal cases, was very rare and in criminal cases only persons of European descent were en titled to that privilege. Therefore, only the names of persons of European de scent were required for the jury list.

That was the sole reason: and no ques tion of political status or colour came into the question.

If, in the future, he said, it became law for persons other than those of European descent to be entitled to trial by a jury, then the names of Indians and members of other races would be added to the jury list. Also, he stated, under the law (section 6 of Ordinance 16, 1932) he could make a declaration as to their eligibility to serve as jurors if called upon, but this would serve no useful purpose, as under the present laws they would not be required for service.

Both the applicants stated that they were satisfied with the explanation.