INDIANS IN POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 259, 1 November 1932, Page 9

INDIANS IN POLITICS.

EXPERIENCE OF FIJI. THE GOVERNOR'S REBITKE. RIGHT LEADERS REQUIRED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, October 16. The appearance of two Indian representatives in the Fiji Legislative Council after an absence of six years, has not increased the respect for their political methods by the reat of the community. Dozens of clerks were kept busy during many long hours answering dozens of questions, many of which overlapped others* and many of, which had been answered nt previous sessions. Tin , chief point insisted on was by a motion asking for a common electoral roll. This is a hardy annual, but the Indian dgitntors insist on their representativn-, bringing it up.

When tlio motion had been debated, his Excellency the Governor, Sir Miirchison Fletcher, in his reply, said :■ —"I have boon anxious at all times to reinedy all no ;siblo inequalities under which ' the' Indians may suffer, but I have to.consider all sides of the question. I have to coni-.idcr the inequalities suffered by the Fijiana and Europeans in c6'i>parison with the Indians." He was satisfied that, on the whole, the Indian inhabitants of Fiji came out pretty well in comparison with the other races. As tc the common roll, the latest authoritative pronouncement \)n the subject had laid the time; was: not ripe for Ihe institution of a common' franchise. . .

"Frankly," eaicl bis Excellency, "I cannot understand the Indians' contention that they cannot enjoy equal citizenship without a; common rolL What is there in a common roll that -gives them equality with the Europeans? The Europeans are not on a common roll with the Indians, and surely what is sauce for the goose is sauce for " the ga,nder ?"

His Excellency went on to say that he considered that the whole answer to the qiiestion was to be found in the fear of "domination. The Europeans in Fiji, like the Moslems in India,.desired a separate franchise because ; they ; were bofh. afraid of being dominated by the other party. He felt sure that if there were as many Europeans in Fiji as Indians, there would be no desire for ,a common roll. "I have firm faith in the- Indian commlmity." continued Sir Murchison, "whoee advance both financially and sjnce the old indentured days has been phenomenal. What the Indians want are leaders— not the leadership of the politicians who come to sow hatred--and dissension in their minds, but the leadership of -the best men in th'e community—leadens whom I know to be there."

At the request of his Excellency the inotion was withdrawn.