On Strike

900 Fijian Miners Go On Strike Hold-up Ends When Demands Are Met

Suva. Dec. 15.

FIJI’S second serious strike in recent weeks started on December 9. when 900 Fijian workers at the Emperor and Loloma goldmines at Vatukoula stopped work following the of a Fiiian underground worker who had been reported to be an allegedly undesirable character in the community.

A fairlv large police detachment was sent from Suva to Vatukoula and the situation was somewhat tense Jor several davs. Unofficial reports state that although the strike has ended, there is ill a certain amount of unrest apparent.

On December 11, the mines manage ment stated that as a result of close in vestigation into the causes of the dis missal of the Fijian employee it. was of the Opinion that the charges against the man could not be substantiated and he had accordingly been The strikers then demanded thedis missal of two turanga-m-koro (minor rbiefs) who had been concerned in the original dismissal, but the management 1 e on o the°same day there were re ports of cases of intimidation of Ipronesian d iPntnman employees, and it was an nounced that the Secretary for Fijian Affairs (Ratu Sir Lala SukunaihadKone to the mines to intervene m the dispute.

The Commissioner of Labour 'Mr. y. fc>.

Reay) had gone to Vatukoula to make an investigation.

On December 12 it was a^ n ?J in<^ d thp management, on the advice of Ratu iir had dispensed with the services of the two men (who were described as “community officers”). , Their demand having been met most of the men were back at work on Monday (December 15).

Rev. H. M. Bell, Presbyterian minister at Whakatane, New Zealand, for some years, has resigned in order to return to missionary work In the New. Hebrides, under the Presbyterian Church of Vic toria.