Pressing Problem
p. 13 · Read in the full issue
THE INDIAN CRY FOR LAND IS FIJI'S MOST
r THE future of the Indian community in Fiji—now believed to outnumber the Fijian natives —is receiving a good deal of anxious thought. Is there room in the large group for both the Indian and Fijian communities of the future?
Is the suggestion that the Indians be re moved to India to be regarded as a prac ticable plan? Meanwhile, here is the story of how the Indians came to Fiji.
It is written by J.M., Labasa.
THE native Fijian—a carefree, happy go-lucky type—is not used to heavy manual work. He derives his susten ance from natural sources—edible roots (such as yams, kumalas, taro) from the earth ,and abundant fish from the rivers and the sea.
In October, 1874, King Thakobau ceded Fiji to great Britain, and the Euro pean came in and opened up cotton, copra and sugar industries. They devel oped large areas of fertile land for cul tivation, and they sought labour. They offered the Fijian many inducements to work, but the system failed. They brought in Chinese, Japanese and Solo mon Islanders; and finally they began to recruit East Indians for Fiji plantations.
These Indians proved to be reliable, less expensive and more suited to Fiji con ditions than any other workers.
The first shipload of Indian labourers arrived in Levuka in 1879. The propor tion of sexes was 30 women to every 70 men. They came in under the “indenture system,” to serve for a term of five years, with rations, quarters and simple wages, and return passages paid to India if they desired to return. The indenture system was abused, and was finally abol ished after several Indian commissions had visited Fiji. A large number of the Indians elected to remain in this group.
INDIANS were introduced to Fiji for economic reasons., but, to-day, the In dian community holds the destiny of the Colony in its hands. If all the Indians were to be removed to India overnight, the Fijians and their so-called trustee, the minority European commun ity, and Fiji itself would face a great economic catastrophe.
The Indians have developed from lab ourers into landlords, and are good* far mers. All the cane farms, the rice farms and most other food crops and minor commercial crops are cultivated and owned by Indian peasants.
The Fijian’s land is leased to the In dian farmers through either the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. of Australia, or through the Government. Sugar cane production is now entirely in the hands of the Indian farmers. Apart from this
chief industry, most other small busi nesses and trades in Fiji are run by the East Indians.
The Indian population has increased by leaps and bounds. In 1919 the Fijian population was 80,000, the Indian was 60,000. To-day, it is believed there are 116,000 Fijians and 119,000 Indians. The margin between birth rate and death rate is larger in the case of the Indians than the Fijians. Infant mortality among the Fijians is much higher than among the Indians.
THE proportion of literacy among the Indians is very low only 25 per cent, are even semi-literate. Out of the present school age population, only 28 per cent, receive the most elementary education.
The next most urgent matter from the Indian viewpoint is land. The Indians love land; but the Fiji land laws protect the Fijian’s land rights,and provide little land for the Indians who are land hun gry. The Government is reluctant to open up new fertile land for Indians.
There is a genuine fear that the latter will swamp the Fijians, for whose sake the lands are preserved or leased. That is why there is Indian clamour for “im provement” in the land laws.