Indian Problem In Fiji.

Logic of the Continued Demand for Common Roll.

(The demand for a common roll —that is, equal status with Europeans in connection with the government of the colony—is maintained constantly by the Indians of Fiji, who are now about equal in numbers to the native Fijians. The problem is hereunder discussed by our contributor, “J.B." a resident of Fiji.)

THE Indian settlement in Fiji is of a different nature from that of the Chinese and Japanese immigrants.

The former are fellow-members of our Empire, introduced for industrial and agricultural work, and who have served the colony in a peculiarly beneficial man ner; whereas the latter can advance no sound reason for the facilities afforded them to exploit the trade of the colony.

In the early eighties of last century, the Colonial Sugar Refining Company came to Fiji to open up the sugar in dustry, and found that the native Fijian race, at that time much attenuated by the disastrous epidemic of measles which a few years previously had swept the country, could not provide a fraction of the labour necessary to develop the in dustry. India offered a populous and cheap recruiting ground, and arrange ments were concluded by the Company, through and with the support of the local Imperial, and Indian Governments, by which a plentiful supply of labour was assured, on favourable terms.

In these arrangements, endorsed and approved by the Government of India of the day, regulations governing the em ployment of those immigrants, the hours and conditions of labour, their habita tions, discipline, and proportion of fe males, etc., were set out in a frame and sentiment even ahead of the times. Yet those very terms were the subject of bitter attack in recent years by the emancipists of India.

The subsequent agitations resulted in the Imperial Government ordering the cancellation of all existing indentures, and the cessation of the system. This was undoubtedly due to pressure from India, in 1916, brought to bear during the anxious years of the Great War, when Indian sympathy and co-operation were desirable.

In these agitations, Fiji became the target of much unmerited abuse, despite the rigih adherence by employers to the letter and spirit of the contract and the strict supervision of the estates by the Immigration Department of the Colony.

It has been shown that the Indian im migrant played a useful and important part in the development of the colony, and their introduction was justified. But their numbers are rapidly increasing, and now are not far short of the 100,000 mark, outnumbering already the com bined total of Fijian and European in habitants.

The alarming part of it, perhaps, is the ambition developed among them by education and freedom from caste tyr ranny. Every move in India is closely followed, and it is onlv natural that the spirit of unrest felt in India should be reflected here. An early manifestation of this was the serious rioting which broke out in various parts of the colony in the early ’twenties, and which called for stern and armed measures of sup pression by the Government.

Since then, there has arisen an agita tion for equal status. So strong was the demand that a compromise became ne cessary, and the constitution of the Leg islative Council of the Colony was amended, whereby the European repre sentation was reduced by one; Fijian in

terests were vested in three members (nominated); and Indians were repre sented by three elected members. At the first session of the newly-constituted Legislative Council, the Indian members pressed the claims of their constituents to full equality, which, naturally, had to be tactfully refused. Thereupon, the members concerned left the session, and the Council, in a huff. There have been similar developments at almost each subsequent election. The last word has not been spoken on this thorny ques tion, and it is equally probable that local political leaders receive inspiration from India.

Every nation has its teething troubles and growing pains, and however one can understand and even sympathise with Indian ambitions, while confined strictly to the Homeland, one cannot view with satisfaction the prospect of Fiji’s future, nor the position of the native and Euro pean population, should Imperial policy find it necessary to force equality of Indians upon a reluctant community.

Eventually such a procedure would mean the disappearance from the Council of European representation, since the rolls would provide disproportionate numbers, and who can foretell the boundary of Indian ambition?

One does not care to reflect on char acter, in an article of this nature; but one may fairly point to the number of Indian cases in the Supreme Court.

Apart from that, most people who know the Indians agree that they are not fit ted, either by character or education, to exercise judgment in public affairs and they would probably be dominated by agitators and professional politicians.

If ever it came to the point where it would embarrass the Governments con cerned to withhold European status from the Indians, then I, for one, would much prefer to have the Imperial Government

disfranchise Fiji altogether, and revert to the old, severe, Crown colony type of Government, wherein a perfect equality would be shared by all—i.e., tax pay ment without representation!

It is easy, I suppose, to criticise, in the light of experience, the initial ar rangements for the introduction of these immigrants; and, doubtless, the origina tors, and those responsible for framing the regulations, had no idea of the man ner, or the extent, to which the privi lege of residence after the completion of indentures would be utilised. The situa tion is a difficult one and, while we must justly admit the value to the Colony of the immigrant’s labour in development of the land, still it must not be forgotten that he came, not as a free and inde pendent colonist, but as an indentured labourer, and it is doubtful if the inten tion to encourage him to become a per manent resident was ever held.

It would perhaps have been better, if such had been the intention, that the Government reserved a large area of land for the settlement of such immi grants who desired to remain after com pletion of their indentured service.

Fortunately, perhaps, the native Fijian has, more or less, kept the Indian at arm’s length, having really a contempt for him, tinged with a little heartburn when he contrasts his own taxation and submission to all kinds of regulations, with the nominal tax imposed on all non-native peoples, and absolute freedom of movement.

Finally, it would seem, considering the political situation in India, which to a

great extent influences the situation here, that sooner or later, the colony will be faced with one of two alterna tives —equal status for all, or reversion to Crown colony autocracy.

Humiliating as the latter expedient would be, it would be preferable to the former, by which Fiji would become to all intents and purposes, a colony, or province of India.