FIJI POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 282, 28 November 1929, Page 23

FIJI POLITICS.

dispute with governor. SENIOR MEMBER RESIGNS. ■SDIANS SUPPORT GOVERNMENT. Msmm Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, November 20. Cne of the keenest fights for the rights of the constitution has resulted in the elected members of the Legislative Council defeating a proposal of the Actio? Governor, Mr. A. W. Seymour, and tLo quietly effective reproval of that gentleman by the Secretary of State in London.

Not long ago the late Governor, Sir Evre Hut-son, formulated a scheme to erect nine schools for Indians, under the direction of the Secretary of State. Recognising the heavy financial strain it would place on the colony, he spread the scheme over five years. This was approved by the elected members, and also the Colonial Office. Lately the Acting-Governor, without consulting the Executive Council or the Legislative Council, brought down a message to the council, which was sitting, proposing to erect the nine schools in one year.

The elected members at once cabled Home protesting against the action as unconstitutional. They said, inter alia, "The course of action taken is without precedent and indicates the entire disregard of the rights and privileges of elected members, established over a period of 25 years. If your Lordship will not intervene we must, by every constitutional means, endeavour to prevent the passing of estimates until the arrival of Sir Murcliison Fletcher (the new Governor) on the 22nd instant, in the hop 6 that wiser counsels will then j prevail." |

Lord Passfield's Reply. To this Lord Passfield replied to the Acting-Governor: "Please inform elected members I consider ideal to be aimed at is equal educational facilities for all races, but that I am, of course, aware that the ideal can be reached only by stages and with due consideration for the°financial resources. I cannot, however, consider their proposal fon only three schools for Indians next year to be adequate, but I will not press for larger expenditure than is involved in the establishment of three schools in connection with the present estimates. As soon as possible after arrival the new Governor should take the matter into consideration with a view, after consideration of the report of the Committee' on Education rate and on return of Indian members to council, to submitting a supplementary estimate for such additional provision for Indian education as may be found advisable."

Another ground for complaint by the elected members was that in Sir Eyre Hutson's scheme provision was made that a special education rate should be levied to provide the needed funds to carry on these new schools. No attempt was made by the Acting-Governor to place any scheme for such a rate before the executive or elected members. The position is intensified by the fact that there are at present no Indian ' members, the three of them having recently resigned, and it was decided at a large meeting of Indians under the presidency of a Mr. S. B. Patel, a barrister, lately arrived from India, who ifi leading the campaign for the Indians, that there should be another election, with the same men returned, and again another moving of the same motion # (which is against the standing orders) and again a resignation. It appears that if the colony has to wait for the presence of the Indian members before the schools are agreed to they will take a long time to eventuate. Governor's Remark Resented. The next incident occurred at the close of the Legislative Council's session. The Acting-Governor thanked the members for their attention and patience, and then, without warning, said he had sent the draft estimates before the Executive Council, the unofficial member of which is Sir Maynard Hedstrom, and the Executive Council had approved them. Without giving anyone a chance of saying anything, his Excellency said: "I adjourn the council sine die." Sir Maynard Hedstrom at once jumped up and said, "I cannot agree with your statement, and should have been given a chance to reply." The Governor said nothing, but stalked out of the chair. The House broke up in confusion, the elected members being very indignant, as Sir Maynard had signed with all the others the cable saying his Excellency had inserted the new schools without the approval or knowledge of the Executive Council or of the elected merpbere. All his colleagues felt impugned with him and they held a meeting next day and decided to protest to the Acting-Gover-nor, and through him to the Secretary of State, against the deliberate imputation against the honour of the senior elected member (Sir Maynard Hedstrom).

The protest read: "Your Excellency — The elected members desire to protest against the remarks made by your Excellency whilst adjourning the council yesterday, which remarks reflected upon the accuracy of a statement made Vth 6 elected members. This protest is rendered necessary by the fact that yoijr Excellency's remarks were made publicly at a time when it was impossible for the elected members to reply, an action which in the opinion of the fleeted members is beyond pardon. The elected members respectfully request that this protest be cabled to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies immediately." Here followed the signatures of the six European members.

Sir Maynard Resigns. Following on this decision, Sir Maynard Hedstrom resigned his post as the »nly unofficial member of the Executive Council. He also asked that the resignation be at once forwarded to the Secretary of State. Sir Maynard added: '"That statement (the one as he a djoumed the council, wherein he charged .Hedstrom with hiding the. truth of the proceedings in the Executive Council) intended to reflect upon my personal honour and was made at a time which ni "de it impossible for me to reply." Tlie general public opinion is that the Aeting-C'overnor's actions have been badly advised.

Tliis evening tlie Indians are holding a mass meeting in tlie Town Hall to take sides with the Government. It *3 a most remarkable attitude to take "p and promises fill sorts o£ political "itangiemenU later 011. It means _ a clear-marked racial division in the Legislature. The Indians are angry because do not understand why Sir Maynard Hedstrom resigned, and attribute his resignation to the Indian school 'lUestion. whereas it was due solely to tlie Acting-Governor's sentiments to-V-rds elected members. The Sstorm does not in any way implicate .the Indian 'thools question.