Sugar Worker Worth?

Inquiry Begins Into Fiji's "Explosive" Sugar Industry How Much Is An Indian Sugar Worker Worth?

Mr. B. D. Lakshman and long discussions on the rations of Indian prisoners in Her Majesty’s gaols in Fiji, dominated the early part of the Fiji Sugar Industry Inquiry that got away to a wordy start on May 25, and was continuing into June.

CHE Governor of Fiji, Sir Kenneth Maddocks, set up the Board of Inquiry in April when it became pparent that, with the new sugar rushing season approaching, in ustrial unrest in the sugar in ustry was close to explosion point.

Chairman of the board, Mr. G. G. [oneyman, CBE, QC, MA, LLB, ime from the United Kingdom to reside. (He has previously made similar inquiry into the sugar idustry of British Guiana). Also a the board are Mr. D. M. N. [cFarlane, Ratu K. K. T. Mara ad Mr. P. K. Bhindi, all of Fiji.

The Sugar Industry Employees’ ssociation appointed five dele ites, led by Mr. Lakshman, to pre ait its case. And Mr. J. C. Potts, lief manager in Fiji of the olonial Sugar Refining Co., will resent the case for the company.

Minimum 3/- an Hour On several occasions, early in the iquiry, Mr. Koneyman had to lestion Mr. Lakshman closely to ad out what the employees did ant—it was not always clear from ie speeches that Mr. Lakshman ade.

It appears, however, that what t. Lakshman and his union want

is a 40-hour week, at a minimum rate of 3/- per hour. This, accord ing to his calculations, would just cover the cost of food for an Indian family of husband, wife and five children. (At another stage, Mr.

Lakshman claimed that the weekly wage should also be sufficient for every worker to be able to buy an adequate house).

Present wage rate is 1/5 per hour, an d there is a 48-hour week, Because there are no official cost -of_nving figures in Fiji, Mr.

Lakshman based his calculations on the cost 0 f the daily rations of an Indian prisoner in a Fiji gaol, Evidence was taken from Mr.

B M sellers, Superintendent of prisons on Indian prisoners’ rations w hicli include vegetables, rice, b ead sharps, fish, meat, fruit and cur ry’ He said that the average cost of feeding a prisoner—all races —was calculated at . £2l/6/4 p^ C e^ ta gg h of P its °food and bought from Government stores”). tn e re T , hman claimed that it Mr. Laxsnmd, buy the cost W / & prisoner > s ration, equ of writing, the Board had taken little or no evidence from had , delegate. the comp<u y

The board of inquiry which was looking into the circumstances surrounding a wages dispute between the Fiji Sugar Industry Employees' Association and the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. in Fiji in May-June. The board will make no rulings but will tender recommendations to the Fiji Government. From left: Mr. P. K. Bhindi; Mr. G. G. Honeyman, QC, chairman of the board —from the United Kingdom; Ratu K. K. T. Mara, and Mr. D. M. N. McFarlane. Hearings commenced in Suva on May 25 and transferred a few days later to the north-west of Viti Levu.

Photo: Stinsons.