Fiji Elections This

Month

SUVA, June 29.

THE Fiji Legislative Council was dis solved on June 10. The election of the new Council will be held on July 29; nomination of candidates closed on July 6.

An ordinance passed recently, provides that members of the Fiji military forces serving overseas or any civil servant attached to the armed forces who would normally be resident Fiji, are entitled to vote at the elections. A special Regis tration Officer, Lieutenant J. R. Hawkes, has been touring forward areas in order to enrol members of battalions serving overseas.

In the Southern Division, Mr. Alport Barker, who has served a number of terms, is being opposed by Mr. Amie Ragg, who contested this electorate un successfully against Mr. Barker at the last election. A close result is anticipated.

In the North-western Division, Mr. H.

H. Ragg, who has served a number of terms, is being opposed by Mr. J. P.

Bayly, who has been out of the political arena for some time, but who was pre viously a member of Legislative Council.

Mr. Ragg is regarded as well “dug in,” and is popular in his electorate.

In the Eastern Division, Mr. H. B. Gib son, who has served a number of terms, will probably be unopposed.

For the Indian seats in the Southern Electorate, Mr. Vishnu Deo, who has served previously, will probably be un opposed. In the Western Electorate the candidates were expected to be Mr. B. D.

Lakshman (who has just served a term in Legislative Council), Mr. R. D. Patel (a lawyer), and Mr. Chattur Singh (a planter). Later, the last-named withdrew in favour of Mr. Patel.

In the Eastern Division, it is expected that Mr. Tularam, who has held the seat, will be opposed by Mr. Jafer Khan (a planter) and Mr. Ganishwar (a lawyer).