INDIANS IN FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 74, 27 March 1923, Page 5

INDIANS IN FIJI.

RESENT RESIDENTIAL TAI APPEAL TO VICEROY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, March 17. At a largely attended meeting of Indians in Toorak, Suva, on Sunday strong speeches were made against the proposed residential tax, whereby everyone in the colony excepting the natives (who already pay two taxes, one ta their Provincial Councils and one to the Government) is taxed £1 per head per annum. After many speeches, in which the Government was more or less attacked, the following motion was carried (amid much enthusiasm), and has to be cabled at once direct to the Viceroy of India, and not through the usual channel the Governor of th c colony: "Viceroy, India,—This meeting is of opinion that in. view of the poll tax being levied in Fiji in the near future, in spite of strong protests being made by Indians in almost all parts of Fiji, whereby the great majority of Indian people, who are already in a most distressed and pitiable condition, will be most affected, the Government of India should be requested II) To consider the payment of the amount proposed to be collected by this tax from the Indian Treasury. (2) To withhold consideration of further emigration of Indians to Fiji under any conditions unless and until the Government of Fiji decider not to impose the tax or abolishes it in the event of its being levied. (3) To provide better facilitres for the repatriation of thousands of Indians who are and will be eager to return to India in the event of the tax being levied, and the people of India ur?pd to consider the question of further emigration of labourers to other parts of the world a national one, and see that India is not advertised ac a labour supplying country any more. Kindly inform Associated I'ress Council eiUs 10th proximo to pass Tax Bill." Mr. 1). B. Singh also read the following cablegram sent to Captain Berkley, a member of the House of Commons: '•Conrrntulations. Indians Fiji object residential tax. Want franchise early. Can you help?" The large meeting was remarkably unanimous. At the meeting one speaker said that if they could not 'be repatriated to India many of them would go to New Zealand, where wages were high. It may be that as the upshot of this bie passive resistance to the new taxation that N>w Zealand, if it not look out. will be facfd with a very hi? economic and racial difficulty. Forewarned U forearmed.