Lepers’ Trust Board Report

Should Suva’S Indians

And Europeans

Go Swimming Together?

SUVA, June 26.

THE question of whether there Is racial discrimination in the control and use of the Suva swimming baths is to the fore again.

Several months ago, when Indian members of the Town Council raised the question of Indian taxpayers being refused the use of what has :come to be known as the European baths, a committee of Councillors was formed to study the matter.

At the Town Council meeting on June 23, this committee recom mended that the additional small ipool be put in order for the use of Indian people—at an estimated cost of £4,500.

Councillor P. Bidesi, who had raised the question originally, pointed out that this was not fac ing the problem at all. The sum of £4,500 could be spent on mpre essential matters than renovating an unnecessary pool. The facts simply were that Indian taxpayers, along with all other taxpayers, were contributing to the upkeep of the present baths and therefore there could be no possible ground for pre venting the Indian community from using them.

It might be that few Indians would use the baths, said Councillor Bidesi. That was outside the point.

If the European community wanted segregation, it should be prepared to establish and maintain its own separate baths. There were far more Indian than European taxpayers.

“On what grounds are the Indians kept out? Is it because we have darker skins? Is it because we are not healthy? The discrimination is not removed by opening the other bath,” concluded Councillor Bidesi.

Councillor W. G. Johnson, com menting on the Committee’s pro posal, said; “I doubt whether the revenue earned by both pools would warrant the expense ... I strongly deplore racial quarrels; but the young folk who use the baths now just want to be left alone. If the baths are opened for all races the pleasure they now have will be lost.”

Defence of the present situation seemed weak; but when a motion :o make a change was put to the /ote it was defeated 8-5. The Coun jil is made up of six Europeans, six Indians, and two other members representing Chinese and other minority sections of the community.

Dne of the latter was absent on this Dccasion.

I The Very Rev. J. M. Oreve, SM, vho returned to Fiji recently after dsiting Europe, has been appointed Catholic chaplain at Makogai Leper Station. Rev. Fr. T. Daurewa, lately chaplain at Makogai, now goes to STadi.

Lepers’ Trust Board Report

The latest Report of the Lepers’ Trust Board of New Zealand on activities at Makogai during 1953 gives the following details: Average total patients were about 687, that level being maintained with new ad missions as patients were discharged.

Nearly twice as many men as women were on treatment—4ss is compared with 233, at the end of the year.

Largest national group were the 324 Indians, with Fijians totalling 126, Gil bertese 103, Samoans 85, Niueans 59 and Cook Islanders only 6. Patients actually admitted during the year totalled 70.

Discharges totalled 39 men and 18 women; 9 male and 4 female patients died.

No new patients arrived from the Cook

Islands but this was due more to lack of transport than to lack of patients.

“Tui Cacau.” currently on a voyage to bring back patients from Niue, Cook Islands and W. Samoa is expected to bring back 4, 7 and 5 patients respectively from these three areas. ♦ HMNZS Lachlan arrived at Apia, Western Samoa, on June 8, for a Marine Survey of Apia harbour, the Apolima Straits and the Saleloga Harbour of Savaii. The survey is long overdue, will occupy four weeks and should obtain valuable information for mariners in Samoan waters correcting and amending existing charts. Lachlan is to depart on her return voyage on July 6.