FIJIAN APPOINTMENT.
A POPULAR PROTEST. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA (iFiji), November 20. There 'lias been quite an amount of feeling caused by the action of the Governor nominating a personal friend in Uganda as C.M.0., against the popular wish. All the medical men in Fiji sent in a written and verbal protest. Then a citizens' petition, signed by over 800 adulte, or 90 per cent, of the European population, excepting Civil servants (who were not allowed to 6ign); was sent in. The heads of the church missions, representing some 80,000 natives and thousands of Indians also signed it, asking that the acting C.M.0., Dr. Montague, b e appointed. Dr Montague has done yoeman service, and with. 20 years of splendid work combined ■with an outside knowledge of tropical diseases, he was certainly the right man for the job. The secretary of State replied, endorsing the governor's nomination. On Monday night a big public meeting was held, when on the°inot»on of Mr. W. McCreadie, the following motion was carried unanimously, amid applause:-^----"Tliat tfiis meeting protests against the recommendation of his Excellency the Governor, to the Eight Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, resulting in the appointment of an official from another colony as the Chief Medical Officer of this Colony, over fllie ■head of Br. A. E. Montague, %vh o fe qualified and competent for the position, and high in the esteem and gratitude of the people of Fiji, and is of opinion that his Excellency has been badly advised in making such recommendation, and does not appreciate the fact that his action ie contrary to express wishes of the colonists of Fiji." The big audience joined heartily in holding up their hands. The motion was cabled direct to the Secretary of State
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Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 281, 26 November 1919, Page 7
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295FIJIAN APPOINTMENT. Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 281, 26 November 1919, Page 7
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