Fiji Elections

V SUVA, October 5.

OTING in Fiji’s Legislative Council elections was completed on Sep tember 20, but the counting of the votes cast fcr the three European and thl l^ e seats was not completed until October. Results:— Southern Division, European.

A. A. Ragg* 369 T. W. Alport Barker 305 Informal 5 North-West Division. European.

H. Maurice Scott ... 293 J.P. Bayly ” 183 Informal n Southern Division, Indian.

Vishnu Deo* 1056 A. I. N. Deoki ’ ’ ‘' 516 Informal 21 North-West Division, Indian.

A. D. Patel* 1972 C. Chattul Singh !! 1106 Eastern Division, European.

F. G. Archibald 132 H. B. Gibson* 143 Eastern Division, Indian.

James Madhaven 499 B. M. Gyaneshwar* .. 350 J. B. Tularam 33 * Sitting member.

The Southern European result was against most predictions in the last days ol the campaign. After holding the seat for many years, Mr. Barker lost it to Mr. Ragg by a large margin in the 1944 election. This year the swing back to Mr.

Barker appeared to be pronounced—but it was not enough to secure his return.

There was no excitement. European voters in Fiji are an apathetic community, mainly because of the feeling that no election can alter the constitution of the official-dominated Council. The only election-venom was in the “Weekly Guardian,’’ which assailed Mr. Barker as siduously for two or three issues, and then dropped the assault like a hot potato.

There was little to choose between the platforms of the candidates. Both advo cated an elected unofficial majority in the Legislative Council, but while Mr. Ragg has long been seeking votes for the Pijians on the same footing as the Indians, Mr. Barker contended that the Fijians were not yet ready for this de velopment. Beyond these points, the can didates dwelt on the customary election topics, such as improved education and health services.

In the North-Western Division, Mr Maurice Scott’s ability as a speaker dike his father, Sir Henry Milne Scott, he is a lawyer), combined with level-headed arguments and personal popularity to bring about a success greater than most people expected.

Mr. Bayly’s failure is regarded by some as a blow to the European Electors’ As sociation, of which he is a substantial Prop is Mr. A. A. Ragg, whose win, although w T ith a substantial majority, is of minor dimensions compared with that of 1944.

The arrival at Noumea from the USA of another Catalina with a French crew of five brings the air fleet of TRAPAS company in New Caledonia to five—two Catalmas and three Seabees. All are for use on the company’s Pacific island ser-