Repatriated

Fiji's Indians May Be Repatriated

IT is reported that the position of the Indian community in Fiji, in relation to the future of that Colony, has been under consideration by the British Imper ial authorities; and that the possibility of repatriating the Fiji Indians is being examined.

There are in Fiji over 100,000 of both Indians and Fijians, and the Indians are increasing in number much faster than the natives. The welfare of the Fijians always has been the care of the British; and the certainty that, within a few de cades, the Indians will be getting ready to push the natives into the sea has given the Government a great deal of unhap piness.

At first, the proposal (made several years ago) to remove the Indians from the Group to India was not even considered.

But events of the last ten years have al tered the outlook very much. India has claimed, and been granted, independence; and the care of communities like the In dians of Fiji is now the responsibility of India, rather than of Britain. Further, the Fiji Indians forfeited any claim to special consideration during World War 11, when they declined to help the British in any way—in contrast with the Fijians, who gave distinguished services as fight ers and as workers.

It looks like a very thorny problem for consideration by the South Seas Regional Council if and when that body is created.

The Queensland New Guinea Associa tion is considerably below its former numerical strength. Once with a mem bership of 70 it has now only about 17.

Many Territorians have returned to the Islands, and a number are now residing permanently in Queensland. A few, how ever, are undecided what to do; they lament the passing of old days and old ways.