NEW ZEALAND AND THE ISLANDS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10777, 3 October 1900, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AND THE ISLANDS.

PEnTIQiSr FROM FIJI.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.")

WELLINGTON, October 2.

The Premier presented to Parliament this afternoon a petition signed by an influential committee nominated by the inhabitants of Suva in public meeting assembled for the purpose of bringing about the incorporation of Fiji with New Zealand. The petition sets forth that the white population has steadily increased, and new exceeds 4000. During the period since 1885 the general population haa been increased by the importation of immigrants from British India as labourers on the great sugar plantations, the number of such immigrants being 15,000. During the same period tho native Fijian population has decreased from 150.000 to I decrease is attributable to the specially oppressive system of Government and-to the «s.«essne ta&a&on. *to vi\wc\v \Wy a>-re •stAsjecbed. The white inhahit-untSj who are lor the most part New ZeaLanders and AuatoaAions, and tVusir descendants, are m\so deprived of all voice in the making of the laws under which they live. After mentioning other grievances, the petitioners ask that the New Zealand Parliament will obtain the sanction of the Imperial Government) for the purpose of securing self-government for Fiji with a view to the incorporation of Fiji with New Zealand as an integral part of that colony Fiji is, the petition points? out, self-supporting and practically without debt, and the potentialities of the colony are such as to place it in J,he first rank among the tropical possessions of the Grown. The memorialists, therefore, confidently believe that the federation of New Zealand and Fiji would result to the mutual advantage of both colonies. I understand that Sir Seddon is strongly in favour of federation w'th Fiji. The report- that the Premier intends to proceed to the Islands in the Tu-tanekai at the closa of the session, is now contradicted. Tho trip will probably be postponed until towards the end of January.