Fijian-Indian Betrothals

Cause Teacup Storm

From Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Jan. 31.

THREE Fijian men students at the Teachers’ Training College, Nasinu, are reported to have become engaged to three Indian women teachers.

This, presumably, is their own affair, but the shred of information has been going the rounds for several weeks, usually ac companied by a spate of condemnation.

Indians generally despise the Fijians and Fijians mostly despise the Indians—but with Fijians tolerance goes to extra ordinary lengths.

Although the personal affairs of the six young teacher-trainees have been the pro perty of gossip-centres for a considerable time, it was not until an Indian weekly, “Fiji Samachar,” came to light with an editorial condemning the proposed domes tic arrangements that the matter ap peared in print.

Whereupon habitual writers of “let ters to the editor,” seized their pens, and had their say on the broad implica tions of inter-marriage between Fijians and Asiatics.

In view of the present racial set-up in Fiji, it is not surprising that few people seem to like the idea. Some responsible Fijians suspect a future lever for weaken ing the Fijians’ hold on the lands that remain to them.

Several competent European observers see in the controversy full justification for misgivings about the system of train ing Fijian, Indian and other men and women teachers at one centre.

There is little question that the con sensus of unfavourable opinion is based on a suspicion that in most organisations where “all races march together in har mony and co-operation,” the Fijians get the wrong end of the deal in the long run.

One Fijian wrote: “In the past there has been very little intermingling of Fijians and Asiatics by marriage. If it starts now it will be another of the things that are said to threaten the end of the Fijian race.”

EDITORIAL NOTE: Three betrothals— or marriages—between young Fijian men and young Indian women, can scarcely be regarded as race suicide—from either the Fijian or Indian point of view It must have been more than proximity that inspired romantic notions in the six young student teachers. “Love” has* ever laughed at locksmiths, stern parents, racial taboos and other obstacles—when it wished to. If there had been any real compatabihty between the Fijian and Indian races there would have been large scale inter-marriage long ago. it is hard marrSf s ? n °usly the suggestion that marriage is the latest Indian secret weapon for the undoing of the Fijians.