Fiji

"Home-Brew "

An Acute Problem in Fiji

RECENTLY when a Fijian was brought before the Police Court in Suva on a charge of being unlawfully in possession of liquor, the superintendent of police asked the Bench to deal sev erely with the case, because this class of offence was not only prevalent but actu ally was getting beyond control. The liquor, he said, was “home-brew” and was much stronger than ordinary beer.

The demand for liquor is so acute that natives and others are being induced to make “home-brew.”

The Fijian, when the police entered his house, which was in the vicinity of a military camp, was found to be in pos session of over 100 bottles of home brewed beer. He was fined £lO or two months’ imprisonment.

In presenting to the magistrate another man, a Chinese, who had been caught supplying liquor to members of the armed forces, the police again pressed for a heavy penalty. Since the law prohibit ing the sale of liquor by the bottle had come into operation, they said, there had been a sudden and alarming increase in purchases of liquor wholesale by certain Chinese, who were suspected of retail ing it to soldiers.

The Chinese, who pleaded guilty, was fined £3O, or two months’ imprisonment.

Another Chinese, who was caught sell ing a bottle of whisky to a soldier for 25/-, was fined £5O or three months’ imprisonment.

It is reported that in spite of these heavy penalties, the offences against the liquor laws continue and that the fines are paid—the offenders do not go to gaol.