The Fiji Electoral Scene
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Fiji’s population is approximately 480,000. The total of voters enrolled is 156,680. For electoral purposes, the voters have been divided between three communal rolls, thus:
Legislative Council
To consist of 40 members, constituted thus: 12 Indians—nine elected on the Indian roll, and three on the common roll; 14 Fijians—nine elected on the Fijian roll, three on the common roll and two by the Great Council of Chiefs; 10 who are neither Fijians nor Indians—seven elected on the miscellaneous roll, and three on the common roll; Four officials, nominated by the Governor.
The Constitution
Fiji’s new Constitution, based on the agreement reached at the London conference in July, 1965, was promulgated only on September 23, and voting on the above system commenced on September 26, and will cease on October 8. The system was designed to give the new, self governing nation as much “common roll” rule as possible, but to prevent any one race from swamping the governmental machinery.
Political Parties
There are no political parties, as such. Organisations of Europeans, Fijians, Indians, part-Europeans, and Chinese have formed an “Alliance , which plans racial unity and progressive development under British direction, and is supporting a team of selected candidates. Its leader, Ratu K. K. T. Mara, has been an outstanding figure in the electoral campaign, and could become Fiji’s first Premier.
Opposing the Alliance is an Indian minority group, called the “Federation”. It is anti-European, is led by Messrs. A. D. Patel and S. M. Koya, is opposing the new Constitution and demands the common roll (under which, apparently, the country would be governed by the Indians).
The chief issue of this election is to what extent will the new council be influenced by the anti-Constitution, anti-European Indians?
There must be 12 Indians in the new council—and how many of them will carry the Federation label?
To Represent Approx.
Population Voters Enrolled
Indian Roll . . .
Indians only 240,000 75,768
Fijian Roll . ..
Fijians and Rotumans 206,000 74,575 GENERAL (or miscellaneous) ROLL .
Europeans 10,000; Part-Europeans 10,000; Chinese 6,000; Other Islanders 7,000. 33,000 6,340
Common Roll . .
The three rolls, above, treated as one roll are brought together and for the purpose of “cross voting”.