Debate On Again

Indian View on Fiji's Constitution

I (From Our Own Correspondent) STORMY political echoes may, or f may not, have been reawakened 'hen an Indian meeting was held at uva on August 28 to debate the

institution of Fiji and possible

Ganges to effect what the organisers limed “a more effective voice for je people in the management of the

blony’s affairs.”

Other matters discussed were the jolition of the nomination system ir councillors under the Towns rdinance, introduction of wider cal government, more educational jportunities, a five-year education an to include free and compulsory lucation, and so on.

The meeting, which was attended r hundreds and had been convened f Mr. Hari Charan and a com ittee, agreed with these proposals principle and appointed a com ittee to go into details.

Probably the most important sug stion was that there should be i Indian and six European elected embers of the Legislative Council, ith six Fijian members to be •pointed in whatever way the jians preferred.

A suggestion which has a good .ance of European support was at Suva City should have its own dian and European members in e Council instead of being in rporated in the present Southern vision.

Phere was strong Indian opposi m to the method of convening the jeting. For instance, the re ubtable Mr. Vishnu Deo, the lior Indian MLC, washed his nds of the whole business, con iding that the subjects raised re ired much more mature consid ition and that such a conference 3Uld be called by Indian repre itatives on a fully representative sis. £r. Hari Charan, who was soundly iten by Mr. Vishnu Deo at the t elections, went to some pains assure the public that he had intention of standing at the 1956 ctions. However, there is wide ■ead Indian suspicion that the leting was pre-election prepara n for another candidate from 5 same camp.

ARLIER, on August 12, an Indian deputation from Labasa pre sented a substantial list of pro sals to the Acting Governor, t suggested inter alia, five Indian LJ IJian u and five European cted members of the Legislative

Council, plus two elected Muslim members. This would avoid Muslim fears of Hindu swamping and would also provide an unofficial majority in the Council.

As, in virtually all “racial” voting in the Council, the Muslims vote as Indians, it would also presumably provide Fiji with an Indian-domin ated legislature. t New water rates at Apia are, for houses, 30/- a tap per annum, maxi mum £4/10/-, and the same rate for ordinary businesses, with a maximum of £l2. Showers, cisterns and toilets are not rateable, t Dry, clear weather is a possible reason for a record tuna-fishing winter in the South Pacific.