Fifth Column In Fiji?

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Feb. 20.

SOME suspect that Fifth Columnists are trying to work upon our Indian people. How else can we explain the silly but persistent rumour that air raid shelters which have been provided here by the Government may not be used by the Indians?

The Indians are sensitive—ridiculously so—on this subject of racial distincticms being made in the use of public facilities.

They are up in arms at the mere sugges tion of distinctions being made between Indians and Europeans—yet we have four communities here (Europeans, Indians, Chinese and Fijians) who are widely separated by history, traditions and stan dards of living, and embarrassments often can be avoided by providing separate

facilities for each different race.

In such things as air raid shelters, how ever, there clearly can be no distinction.

All people—Fijian or Chinese, Indian or European—clearly have the right to dive into the nearest shelter when the need arises.

Japan and Germany have set to work, very cunningly, to turn the Indian people against Britain. Is this curious local incident another manifestation of it?

Mr. H. Upton, of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd., Sydney, who died re cently, was formerly well known in Fiji.

At various periods, he had served at Labasa, Lautoka, Ba, and Penang.