More Drunkenness
p. 58 · Read in the full issue
Among Fiji Indians
From Our Own Correspondent „ mTTn .. , SUVA. Nov. 8 IIfHILE the number of Fijians convicted TT of being drunk and disorderly de creased in 1947 compared with 1946, the number of Indians convicted of the same offence increased by 66 per cent. These figures in the newly-published Police Department report for 1947 are of interest when the bitterly-contested Liqupr Bill (proposing to remove all liquor restrictions on Indians) is still temporarily shelved.
At the same time, Fijians convicted of other liquor offences in 1947 increased by 50 per cent, and Indians by 30 per cent.
The report indicates that “the tendency of non-permit-holders to frequent licensed premises” accounted considerably for the increases in this category.”
The total number of permits was 7,542, of which Indians held no fewer than 5,343, Fijians and others accounting for a total of 2,199.