INDIANS IN FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 168, 29 July 1901, Page 2

INDIANS IN FIJI.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — Mr Ghrispe Wane seems to think that I am making a mistake as to my opinion on Indians brought into Fiji, but facts are stubborn things to get over. If Mr Wane will look over the lists of the criminal sessions held in Fiji since the Indians were first brought into Fiji by the Government he will see that they are full of murders and robbery, and each of the sugar plantations is sending cases of murder to almost every session held in Suvtav and Sir Henry Berkerley's (Chief Justice of Fiji) remarks on their murderous propensity is quite enough to prove that they are not very good neighbours for New Zealand, nor are they a good population for the lovely islands of Fiji.

I was a witness in a ease against an Indian about 18 years old for killing an old gentleman who was in charge of a store at Raki Raki. The Indian chopped him to pieces. (He was hanged in Suva. Again, I convicted an Indian for stealing a horse from the place I was in charge of. The same Indian was convicted on two other robberies, and Suva gaol is full of convicted Indian thieves. The Indians that are in Fiji are a very immoral race. They -will sell their daughters, ag-ed 12 or 13, for immoral purposes, cases of which are going on every day in Fiji. All the number of years that I was in Fiji there might have been one or two Fijians committed murders, but there have been Indians almost every session, and since I left there have been more murders committed. Perhaps the Rev. W. Slade, one of the most popular missionaries of Fiji, will give us his opinion of Indians as 4 a population for Fiji and as to their general character in that colony.

I have travelled quite enough in my time and I have been amongst Indians for fully ten years, and I have met very few good ones. In conclusion, I hope all good New Zealanders will try and stop the importation' of Indians to Fiji, as, if it is kept up, as at present^ it means the extermination of the Fijians, -who are a fine race of people if treated well.—l am, etc.,

E. B. E. TURNER.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—<l would also like to •say a few words on behalf'of the people whom your correspondent, E. B. Turner, stigmatises a,s thieves and murderers. I am of the same opirikm as Chrispe Wane—that Mr Turner should cruise around a bit more before he starts to ease off his jaw-tackle about a race of people who have proved before today that they could fight and die to sa,ve the British flag from dishonour in both their own country and other countries as well wherever they hove been sent to fight for the British Empire. E. B. Turner ought to know that it is not right to condemn a 'basketful of eggs because one, or perhaps two, in the basket are bad. The same applies to Vhe people of India. Granted that wfliat he says is trne concerning some of them, why should •he write insulting remarks about the whole race? It is not fair, trot I daresay E. B. Tamer is Eke a great

many more people, who think, because the Indian has a black skin, hs ought not to be allowed to live. Xow sir, in closing, let me tell him this that should he go to India he would find that the white man has taken many of his vices ami few of his virtues for the people of India to copy; and, also, I would tell him that he would find no truer comrades this side of the sun, either on the battlefield or in the barrack-room, and one that would stand by him through thick and thin, than one of the Goorkhas, who are part of the people he styles thieves and murderers. — I am, etc.,

ONE WHO HAS BEEN TO INDIA,