Fiji’s Legislative Council

New Nominated Members

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, July 6.

TINDER Fiji’s new Letters Patent the unofficial side of the Legislative Council is to be comprised partly of nominated members and partly of elected members. Recently the Governor’s nomi nees were gazetted as follows: Europeans—Sir Maynard Hedstrom (formerly elected member for the East ern Division), and Mr. H. King Irving (manager in Fiji for the Colonial Sugar Refining Co.).

Indians—Mr. K. B, Singh (formerly elected member for the Indian Southern Division) and Mr. Said Hasan (barrister at-law, of Suva).

Fijians—Ratu Deve Toganivalu, 1.5.0. (sitting member), Ratu J. L. V. Sukuna (sitting member), Ratu George Tuisawau (Roko Tui Rewa), Ratu Isireli' Tawake (Roko Tui Tailevu), and Ratu P. Veli, 1.5.0. (Roko Tui Macuata).

This left three European and three Indian members to be elected. When nominations closed a day or so ago it was announced that Mr. Alport Barker (who was an elected member in the old Council) had been returned unopposed for the Southern Division. The election for the other two Europeans and three Indians will take place shortly.

The number of Fijian members has been increased by two. Previously three were nominated. One of the three native members of the old Council was the late Ratu Popi Cakobau, whose place had not been filled. There are no elected Fijian members.

The nomination of Mr. Hasan is con strued as being in response to the oft repeated demand of the Muslim com munity for a representative of their own.

The European and Indian electoral rolls closed recently, and the following are the figures in comparison with the 1936 rolls:

Europeans

1936 1937 Southern Division 676 634 North Western Division 492 507 Eastern Division 366 307 - , . , Totals 1,534 1,348 —— •

Indians

1936 1937 Southern Division 999 1,130 North Western Division 782 1,408 Eastern Division 139 275 - Totals 1.920 2,813 .