New Constitution For Fiji Council

Elective Principle Retained—Equal Status for Communities

T’HE plan to substitute a purely ± nominative system for the part nominative, part elective system in Fiji has not succeeded. The Secretary of State for the Colonies announced on July 20 that the elective principle will be re tained. but that the Constitution of the Council will be altered.

The old and the new arrangement can best be shown thus:

The Indian community was dissatisfied with its representation under the old sys tem, and a small section of Indians worked with increasing activity for a “common roll.” A “common roll” (Europeans, Fijians and Indians on the same roll, on a basis of adult franchise) was clearly imprac ticable; but as the Indians seemed irre concilable, the Governor took the only practicable course, and recommended the withdrawal of the elective principle alto gether, and the substitution of a purely nominative system.

It was supposed, generally, that this would be agreed to. But strong represen tations reached the Colonial Office, through the India Office; and the Secre tary for the Colonies, with that genius for compromise which makes Britain suc cessful in governing so many diverse races, found a way of meeting the situa tion.

In a despatch to the Governor of Fiji, the Secretary for the Colonies said that there was considerable opposition to the proposal for the abandonment of the elec tive system, but that there was a much wider agreement to the suggestion that all three communities have equal numeri cal representation. He also had been in formed that the Indians were never unani mous in demanding a “common roll,” and that more and more are now abandoning their advocacy of it. In these circum stances, he had decided on the com promise indicated above.

The present Council is to remain in existence at least until December 31, 1936, and elections under the new Constitution will be held before July, 1937.

The compromise decision of the Colonial Office has been well received in Fiji, and it is generally believed that the Indians

will accept it and cease their “common roll” agitation, and that there now is a good chance of political peace for several years.

Criticism of the new Constitution of the Council takes the following form: The Council now will be too unwieldy.

There will be far too much talk, and pro ceedings will be unduly prolonged.

Increasing the official members from 13 to 16 means that 16 important officials will be detained in Council, away from their duties, for longer periods than are prac ticable.

The election of the European members will be a farce. The European elections will be decided by the half-castes carry ing European status, who now are so numerous that they dominate practically all divisions.

Old New Council.

Council.

Official members . . .. 13 16 Europeans, elected 6 3 ,, nominated — 2 Indians, elected . .. 3 3 ., nominated. — 2 Fijians, nominated 3 5 Total . . 25 31