Airport

Indian Commissioner

In Fiji

Spectacular Welcome At Nadi Airport

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Oct. 1

ALTHOUGH the newly-appointed Com missioner for the Indian Govern ment in Fiji (Mr. S. A. Waiz) will officially act only for those Indians in the Colony who are not permanent Indian residents, a procession of 250 cars, the property of permanent Indian resi dents, swept up to Nadi Airport early to-day to greet the commis sioner on his arrival from India by way of Australia, All the Indian political and other leaders were at Nadi and there was the usual display of national flags.

After spending to-night at Northern Hotels’ newly-opened hostelry at Nadi, Mr. Waiz will come to Suva to-morrow.

No announcement has been made as to where the Commissioner will live. The plan to buy the Oceanic for him seems to have fallen through. But it is known that, despite the desperate housing short age, a surprising number of Indian prop erty-owners have been eager to put houses at the disposal of their Commis sioner, at very generous rentals. An equally surprising number of prospective landlords have said openly that they want payment in advance.

Earlier this month, an Indian member of the Legislative Council was required to make a retraction in both the English and Indian press, of a statement he had made at an Independence Day gathering.

He had declared that the Commissioner would act for all the Indians living in Fiji. He spoke in Hindustani, and it was not until an Indian paper published a report of the speech that the surpris ing mistake became non-Indian property.