End Of European Franchise In Fiji

One Way of Solving Indian Political Problem

THE political problem connected with the rapid growth of the Indian population in Fiji continues to receive attention.

The Fijians cause no trouble; but the Fiji-born descendants of the Indians who were brought out originally to work the sugar plantations cry constantly for a share in the administration of the Colony, on the basis of an electoral roll shared in common with Europeans.

Two or three years ago, the con troversy was active. It has died down since, but the Government, having had warning, very wisely has made prepara tions for the future. The constitution of the Suva and Levuka Municipal Councils has been changed, so that those bodies are to be nominative, instead of being elected. There is a move afoot to alter, similarly, the constitution of the Legis lative Council, which now is partly elected and partly nominated.

The issue is quite plain. Do the Euro

pean residents of Fiji wish to retain the franchise, in which event they will face a growing clamour by the Indians for equal voting-power, and a danger even tually of seeing their Government swamped by the Indians? Or would they prefer to retain their present form of government, but on the nominative sys tem, which would guard them against the risk of being overwhelmed by the Indians?

If the Fiji-British have the vote, they cannot withhold it indefinitely from the Fiji-Indians, who officially rank equally with them as subjects of the British Empire. But if no one has a vote —a common enough condition in small Colonies—there can be no protest from the Indians —none, at least, worthy of official attention.

Under the nominative system, all three classes of the community—Europeans, Fijians and Indians—can be represented in the Legislative Council, just as they are at present.