FIJI AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 256, 29 October 1929, Page 21

FIJI AFFAIRS.

POLITICAL MOVEMENTS.

INDIAN AND NATIVE.

A PLUCKY CONSTABLE,

(From Our Ov/n Correspond""* )

SUVA, October 19,

While a Wallis Island youth was hanging over the Thomson Street bridge he overbalanced and fell into the Nabukulau Creek, hitting the parapet as he jfell, and stunning himself, so that he iwould probably have been drowned. Constable Silasi,- No. 119, who was standing by, at once jumped into the creek with his uniform on, and succeeded in bringing the victim to the bank. The latter was bleeding from the head where lie had struck the wall, and the constable hurried him to the hospital, where he was detained. This is not by any means the first time that Silasi has proved his bravery." Once he was taking a prisoner at. night to, the station when the man threw a tin of oil which he was carrying at the officer and ran off to the beach and plunged in, swimming straight out to sea. Silasi, recovering from his fall, chased the man and finally captured him out in the harbour, and was rescued by a boat. For this he was awarded the medal, of the Royal Humane Society. Later he jumped into the harbour and rescued a drunken sailor, who had out of bravado jumped in, to swim across the harbour. For this he was recommended for the King's Police Medal. Indian Convention. The Indians are awakening to the possibilities of the ballot box. Last Sunday they held a great' convention at LautOka, at which some hundreds of delegates from all over the group were present. Mr. S. B. Patel, a barrister, presided. The meeting was evidently held under a new code of ethics. Nothing' was said against the Governiiuent and the radicul section, including the newly-elected Samaj members, were silent. Evidently some big move is pending, for when these agitators are like doves something is in the wind. However, deiinite motions were unanimously carried, amidst applause. The meeting demanded that all Indians be placed upon the common roll and not upon a communal roll as at present. They also asked that an Indian be imported from India to act as Indian agent, instead of having a British official in charge.

There are all sorts of rumours of semi-private meetings, where talk of domestic strikes are rampant, but so far there has been no trouble, outside of a few local strikes among domestic servants, for flimsy reasons.

The opening of the Legislative Council on Friday is looked forward to with special interest in view of the Indian attitude. "Young Fiji" Movement. The Fijians are at last rousing themselves and saying that they think the Government has too long been neglecting them for the Indian. It is time they did, as everybody else knew this fact long ago. While nothing of any value was being done for the Fijians, the Government has been spending huge sums upon hospitals and schools for Indians. Only within the past two years lias the campaign to arrest child mortality among the natives been taken in hand. But the native, who owns most of the land, lias had to play second fiddle to the ex-coolie, who has been looked upon by the Fijian in the past as very much an inferior animal. Today, thanks to their native shrewdness and opportunity, the Indians are the i big men, many owning many acres and more owning large bank accounts. The Fijians now see in part at least that they are playing a losing game, so they are seeking to co-operate. Their chief organisation is the . Young Fijian Society, with many branches throughout the country and some 1500 members. They have just held their annual conference and showed that they can manage such gatherings quite a la House of Commons, and possibly with more dignity. To watch a debate is a sheer joy. They are sticklers for etiquette and ceremony.

The Fijian women also are seeking to band together, and they have a guild with 200 branches throughout Fiji, and many hundreds of members. Their recent conference preceded the Suva show and showed that the native homes are fast becoming more hygienic, and home comforts greater than ever before. Instructresses are now going through the towns teaching the mothers how to nurse and to cook, and cutting out garments for them to sew. The exhibits at the show included for the first time some really good samples of cooking by Fijian women. Their fancy work also vied in excellence with the European exhibits. The natives are out to induce the Government to "play the game," and all Europeans are heartily with them in their ambition. The New Governor. It will be quite a relief when the new Governor arrives next month. At present there are too many "Acting" officials as heads of Departments. The colony seems to be at a loose end, everything is waiting "until the Governor arrives." As this state of things has been going on for months, it may easily be imagined that such a condition is hardly satisfactory or conducive to progress or sound development. Cession Day. October 10 is Cession Day, to commemorate the handing over of Fiji in 1874 by King Cakabau and High Chief Maafu and other high chiefs, to Sir Hercules Robinson. Among other events planned to celebrate the day is a quiet meeting every year in the Black Cat Cafe, where old-timers meet to talk over that memorable day over 50 years ago when they saw the old flag of Cakabau pulled down and that of the Union Jack pulled up in its place. Many yarns are told of those wild days, when men were men and life was at a premium. Last week the party had dwindled to ten, but they were stiil full of enthusiasm, and the oldest was 94 and still keen to tell of, what he remembered. Mr. Beauclerc, who is a youth of-but 84 years;-itold of many] things with vim. He is well-known throughout the Pacific as the hardworking secretary of the Fijian Society. They spoke of the good old days in Levuka, when there we're 29 pubs there and gin cost a bob a bottle. Hey ho! for the days that have gone. Who will meet next year at the Black Cat?