Dispute over Fiji Council
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Precedence Elected Indian Members And Oath Of Office
From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, Sept. 30. the compromise between elec tion and nomination in the new con stitution of the Fiji Legislative Council, al! has not been going smoothly, so far as the Indian members are concerned.
A dispute arose before the sitting of the Council over the matter of precedence —as to whether the elected members or the nominated members should sit at the head of the Indian group. Apparently when the matter was referred to the Governor (Sir Arthur Richards) he de cided to seat the members according to their age, which placed Mr. Said Hasan, one of the two nominated members, and the only Muslim among the five, in the first position. Incidentally, Mr. K. B.
Singh, the other nominated member, and the only one who was member of the last Council, was thus relegated to last position.
At the formal opening of the Council, Mr. Hasan and Mr. Singh took their seats but the three elected members, Messrs.
C. Chattur Singh, Vishnu Deo. and Tula ram did not attend. They were present, however, with other members at a dinner given to the Councillors at Government House the following day.
When Council resumed on September 28, after the first day’s adjournment, the three recalcitrant Indian members en tered the Chamber and took their seats.
Thereupon the Governor said he noticed that there were three members present who had not taken the oath. He there fore asked them to vacate their seats till after the minutes of September 24 were confirmed. This they did.
After the minutes had been read and confirmed His Excellency said that he was prepared to allow any members who had not taken the oath on the opening day to do so. However, the clerk reported that the three Indian members had left the precincts of the Council Chamber, and business proceeded without them.
This morning, after yesterday’s min utes had been confirmed, Sir Arthur Richards said he understood that there were three members present who wished to take the oath. Messrs. Chattur Singh.
Vishnu Deo, and Tularam stepped for ward and took the oath, and then the Council carried on with its work.
Throughout the impasse, the Governor clearly demonstrated that he was the Chairman of the Council and that mem bers—European. Fijian, -and Indian must comply with the regulations. At all times during the dispute, the nominated Indian members complied with the neces sary formalities, and assisted the Council.