Indians Make Requests For Different

Conditions In Fiji

But Distinguished President Destroys Good Impression by Action in Honolulu

INDIAN representatives, to the number of several hundreds, gathered in Suva on October 30, to attend an All-Fiji Indian Conference. The conference considered many matters affecting the general condition of the Indian popu lation in Fiji, and adopted a long series of resolutions shown in the attached special report.

The conference was presided over by the Honourable Pandit Hridaya Nath Kunzru, 8.A., LL.B., D.Sc., who was leader of the Indian delegation to the Public Relations Congress held recently in Australia. His addresses to the conference were moderate and conciliatory in tone, and might have been re garded as a contribution to good relations between the different races in Fiji.

Unfortunately, this Dr. Kunzru, when he arrived in Honolulu, made a number of outrageous statements about the Indian community in Fiji, which were broadcast throughout the sensation-loving press of America, and which are an evil reflection upon British colonial government in Fiji.

The subject is dealt with elsewhere in this journal; but it may be pointed out here that the statements made in Hawaii by the learned chairman destroy much of the practical value of the All-Fiji Indian Conference, described below.

THE chairman addressed the confer ence formally on three occasions. He said that many matters, affecting the living conditions of the Indians in Fiji, required patient study, and he appealed for greater unity and co-operation be tween the different communities of In dians living in Fiji. He pointed out that none of the resolutions adopted would, if implemented, do any harm to the na tive Fijians, and he said that they had received, from the Government of Fiji,

a promise of laws giving “equal rights to Indians’’. He urged upon the Indians a sense of obligation to other races liv ing in Fiji, so that they might live in happiness and harmony. He pointed out that Fiji had benefited much from the industry of the Indians in Fiji, and therefore the Indians were entitled to the same rights and privileges as other British subjects living in Fiji.

The following report is based on re ports published in the “Fiji Times”,

Scope Of Conference

The following papers were read and discussed: — General Economic Position, by Mr. A.

D. Patel.

Land, by Mr. R. Parmeshwar.

The Indian Cultivator and his Prob lem, by Mr. Ayodha Prasad.

Health and Hygiene, by Dr. C. M.

Gopalan.

Education, by Pandit Amichand.

Commerce, by Mr. Hargovan Ganga ram.

Indians in Fiji and Their Rights and Disabilities, by Mr. A. D. Patel.

The following resolutions were unanim ously adopted by the conference:—

Demand For Inquiry

(1) This All-Fiji Indian Conference is strongly of opinion that an enquiry into the economic conditions of the Indian community in Fiji which was promised to the Government of India several years ago, but has not as yet been carried out, is essential, and urges the Govern ment to appoint as early as possible a Commission of enquiry, containing rep resentatives both of the Indian commun ity and the Government of India. (2) This All-Fiji Indian Conference requests the Government of India to delegate representatives expert in land matters to assist the Indian community when the Government of Fiji will ap point a Committee for the proposed de markation of native reserves and alien ation of lands for leasing purposes.

Land Wanted

(3) This All-Fiji Indian Conference

draws the attention of the Government to the great difficulties experienced by the Indians, who depend to a large ex tent on land for their livelihood, in obtaining leases of agricultural land and requests it to take immediate action to protect Indian interests on the following lines: — (a) Leases of lands at present culti vated should be renewed. (b) Suitable provision should be made for obtaining fresh land. (c) Subject to regular payment of rent and the right of the Govern ment to revise rents after a pre scribed period. Indians should not be disturbed in their possession of agricultural land. The system fol lowed by the Government of In dia in those provinces where land is directly held from the Govern ment should be adopted in Fiji.

(4) (a) This Conference impresses on the Government the urgent need for legislation to regulate the relations of landlords and tenants and to allow to tenants the rights and protection eniov ed by them in all civilised countries The present position is giving rise to wide spread and acute discontent and unless dealt with fairly and boldly will prove seriously detrimental to the future development of Fiji. (b) This All-Fiji Conference is further of opinion that Government should take early action to prevent tenants from be ing forced to work for any individual or association.

Health And Hygiene

(5) This All-Fiji Conference author ises the Indian Association to make suitable representations to the authori ties for the: —

(a) Training of more Indian medical students. (b) Establishment of hospitals in the districts in which there are no proper medical facilities existing at present. (c) Establishment of Indian child welfare centres and training of Indian nurses. (d) Provision of pure water supply in the districts in which such supply is not available. (e) Establishment of a sanatorium for T.B. and such diseases; and (f) Arrangement for necessary in structions to Indian Dais, mid wives, attending confinement cases.

Education

(6) This All-Fiji Indian Conference registers its strong dissatisfaction with the present educational facilities afford ed to the Indian children and strongly urges the Government to put into effect as soon as possible the recommendations contained in Mr. Mayhew’s report on the following points:— (1) Introduction of compulsory edu cation. (2) Provision for technical and voca tional training. (3) Establishment of intermediate and secondary schools. (b) This Conference while welcoming the fact that the Government have adopted the Mayhew recommendations in principle is of opinion that the pro vision made for carrying them out is quite inadequate, specially in view of the neglect of Indian education in the past by Government, notwithstanding the keenness of Indian parents to educate their children. (c) This Conference further records that; (1) As in India, a prescribed per centage of Indian children should be admitted to the European Grammar Schools; and that (2) efforts should be made to obtain trained women teachers from India. (d) This Conference while approving of Mr. Mayhew’s recommendation that scholarships for higher education should not be confined to Europeans only, is strongly of opinion, in view of an in creasing number of Indian boys ready to profit by University education, that ade quate provision should be made for giv ing them higher education outside Fiji.

Other Requests

(7) This Conference authorises the In dian Association to make necessary rep resentations to the authorities to facili tate importation of Indian patent medi cines and matters connected therewith and to remit import duties on foodstuffs. (8) In view of the fact that the In dian community has vast interests in this Colony, this Conference strongly requests the Government to appoint an Indian elected member to the Executive Council which consists of Europeans only at present. (9) This Conference requests the Gov ernment to expedite the publication of the report of the Committee appointed to consider the question of passports and domicile and urges the Government to remove the disabilities, under which In dians labour at present. (10) This All-Fiji Indian Conference considers that the time is opportune for the appointment of an Agent of the Government of India in Fiji and urges the Fiji Government to give facilities for the purpose in the interests of both the Government themselves and the In dian community.

UD This Conference strongly urges the Government to repeal the Masters and Servants Ordinance and to introduce legislation to facilitate registration of agricultural and trade unions in Fiji. (12) This Conference is of the opin ion that the provisions of the Work men’s Compensation Ordinance be ex tended to the Indians and Fijians in this Colony at an early date. (13) This Conference records its em phatic protest against the racial dis crimination made in the Fiji Civil Ser vice against Indians and Fijians and urges the Government to take immedi ate steps to abolish such discrimination and to give equal opportunities to the members of different communities for ca reers in the public service of the Colony, on the ground of personal merit.