Fiji Indians

And War

Full Co-operation is Indicated

UNDER the leadership of the Gov ernor, Sir Harry Luke, the Indian community of Fiji is now co-operat ing loyally with the other communities in developing the Colony’s utmost pos sible war effort.

Preliminary talks show that the Indians are prepared, if required, to supply fighting men, pioneer battalions, medical services, and labour organisa tions. and that they will do everything possible to increase food production.

Until Japan came in, the war prob ably was further away from Fiji than from any other place on earth; but, now.

Fiji is pretty close to the front line, in the Pacific, and the neople of Fiji are on the job, accordingly.

The Governor called a meeting repre sentative of all the Indians in the Col ony, and asked for their co-operation, in a friendly, tactful speech. He was given a very satisfactory response.

Nonetheless, the Indians could not refrain, even in this matter, from having a tilt at High Authority concerning what thev quite wrongly call “the policy of political and economic discrimination against non-European races in this Colony”.

Because Europeans govern Fiji, and for purposes of government are obliged to separate the people into three main communities European, Indian and Fijian—the Indians insist on displaying a sort of inferiority complex, and cry ing out about their status. However, there were enough philosophers among them at the conference to make the whole body realise that nothing can be done about it now, anyway—and that the surest way of getting political griev ances considered after the war is to co operate now with the other communi ties in the urgent matter of defence.

The following are the chief decisions reached by the Indian Conference:— In the event of the Government pro posing to enlist Indian troops for: (a) Fighting battalions; (b) Pioneer batta lions: (c) Reserve pioneer battalions; (d) Other units, including medical corps; such enlistment would be acceptable to the Indian community if the Govern ment recruits on a voluntary basis and offers the same terms of service (includ ing pay, allowances, pensions, etc.) as those offered to European troops.

This conference accepts the suggestion for the formation of a Central War Com mittee: District Committees and Sub committees for the organisation of civil defence, first aid, production of camou flage nets, evacuation, food supply, and -such other measures of relief vital to the safety of the civilian population of Fiji.

This conference elects the following members of the Indian community to the Central War Committee and gives the committee powers to co-operate other members if necessary: Hon. Mr.

Vishnu Deo, Hon. Mr. A. R. Sahu Khan, Mr. B. Raghvanand, Mr. A. D. Patel, Mr.

Tulsi Ram Sharma, Mr. A. I. N. Deoki, Hon. Mr. K. B. Singh. Hon. Mr. B. D.

Lakshman, Dr. C. M. Gopalan, Dr. G.

Mukerji. Mr. H. Sahodar Singh, Mr.

Rama Krishnan.

This conference appreciates the inter est taken by Mr. Robert Crompton. KC, CBE, and the Hon. S. Howard Ellis. MBE, in the matter of civil defence of this Colony and in their presenting a scheme to the Government.