[?] Featureless

[?]pt for Mr. [?]si's Land Sale [?]a Election Dull [?] Featureless

Suva, Oct. 31.

Indian Suva City Councillor Ar. S. M. Bidesi, had a precari >us hold in his ward, Muanikau; lat, with an election drawing , certain land transactions of probably quite innocent—as d a significance that, apparently, sht him into disfavour. At any he suffered a resounding de at he polls on October 26. . Bidesi was interested in the nase of a block of land in his d, comprising one rood 26 les. The documents at the [ Titles Office showed that 114 ms were named as the new ts of the land, land-owners, they would have entitled to vote in the elections, .ded the Returning Officer was ied in time to place their names le roll. They might have voted £r. Bidesi.

'0 days before the rolls closed, sale of the land to the 114 ms was announced in the local e announcement said that two le new owners were policemen. >olice Commissioner (Mr. R. H. T.

Lmont), made an inquiry and unced that the police concerned j nothing about it. He said the names of the police had recorded on the documents Dut their consent . e stir that this caused resulted ;he non-transfer of the 114 le to that roll. wever, if all the 114 had voted *lr. Bidesi, they would not have i him from defeat. In a three ered poll he secured only 44 \ out of 394 cast, brother, Mr. C. P. Bidesi, was

also a candidate for the council, in the Samabula Ward. The publicity about Mr. S. M. Bidesi did not affect him—he was re-elected.

Apart from the Bidesi incident, there was little interest in the Council elections.

Dr. C. M. Gopalan, a Councillor since 1941, was returned in the Suva

ward with a majority of 232 over Mr. Shankar Pratap.

The two retiring European Coun cillors, Crs. C. A. Stinson and S. G.

Gould, were returned unopposed, The Europeans in Suva appear always ready to criticise the Council and its activities, but few of them are prepared to serve as Councillors.