Indian Organisations Suggest

Changes in the Fiji Constitution

From Our Own Correspondent

SUVA. February 7.

A S reported in the “PIM” some time A ago, the Constitution Comm.ttee in Fiji appealed for suggestions for re forms in the Fiji constitution. So far, only two replies have been made public.

And these come, perhaps significantly, from two Indian organisations—the In dian Association of Fiji and the Central Indian Organisafon.

The ideas of the Indian Association are considerably milder and advocate fewer sweeping changes than do those of the Central Indian Organisation.

The first-named association that the Fiji Legislative Council should consist of the Governor of Fiji, as Pre sident, four ex-officio members, six offi cial members (nominated by the Governor), six Fijian members elected directly or indirectly by the Fijians, six European unofficial members, elected by the European electors and si.< Indians elected by the Indian electors. That the Governor be vested with the power to veto any vote or resolution of the Leg s lative Council.

They think that election should be on a basis of universal suffrage and—strange for an Indian organisation—that being a female should not debar one for candi dature to the Legislative Council.

The Central Indian Organ sation, how ever, would like to see a joint electorate of all races living in the Colony, but ap parently feeling that this would rot meet with the approval of the majority, for

the present, anyway, it is suggested that, in the meantime, an equal number of members for each racial group be elected by voters on the communal rolls, u The nomination of unofficial membe s by the Governor in each of the three rac d al g, rou P s should be eliminated alto gether, to give direct representation to the people. The Council should consist of 24 members-six Europeans, six Indians, six Fijians and no more than six officials, m eluding ex-officio members nominated by the Governor. As Fiji’s Civil Servan s have a vote, it should not be necessary to have more than six ex-officio members to represent the Government’s views, The Governor should continue to be the President of the Council and have the right of veto, Tf hnwpvpr in nf nll thp m “brity in the Council is 1 ’maintained the J re s £ ould be 16 offlcial and 15 unoffl J cial mem bers divided equally into three ™‘ a / e groups ’ but wholly elected the p J* * ... . . . ... Th ® Asso pi a t lo n also would like the franchise widened to take in all adults. quallflcations would De eliminated.