That Indian “Bogey”!

7VTR. F. L. FADDY, under date of Suva, August 16, writes somewhat violently on the subject of the franchise in Fiji, and our correspondent’s reference in August to “a motley assemblage.” Says Mr. Faddy, inter alia: “It is very palpable that your corres pondent is a civil servant —one who has no interest in the welfare of the Colony nor holds a franchise in Municipal or Legislative affairs —and, what is more palpable, he was not present at the meeting, for by no stretch of imagination could anyone with a mentality above a sycophant designate the meeting of re putable citizens a ‘motley assemblage.' “What your correspondent forgot to mention was that, included in the 35 votes approving the action of those elected members supporting the Nominative System, were at least six recorded by ladies who, like your correspondent, haven’t the franchise. On the other hand a great many more votes would have been added to the 65 supporting the Elective system (all electors) had it been a secret ballot instead of a show of hands for, sad to relate, we have amongst us a great many people who for various reasons in a small place like this cannot afford to disclose openly their political opinions.

I would add that your correspondent has, quite unwittingly, designated the so called ‘cry for common roll’ of the Indians by its correct name—viz., ‘a bogey’—for I can assure you that that is just what it is—a bogey specially manufactured for the occasion by supporters of the Nomi nation system.” (EDITORIAL NOTE—Mr. Faddy is in deed a very short-sighted man if he would dismiss the Indian demand for the common roll as a “bogey.” It is easily the biggest and most significant problem that the Crown Colony is faced with. The Fiji Europeans live so close to the danger

that they cannot appreciate it. They are like the peasants, whose farms and villages cluster about the slopes of Mt.

Vesuvius. Everyone can see the menace except they themselves.)