FIJI’S LIQUOR PROBLEM

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25346, 20 November 1947, Page 5

FIJI’S LIQUOR PROBLEM

PRESENT RESTRICTION ON INDIANS

REMOVAL PROPOSED (From Ov r Own Correspondent.) SUVA, October 20. The question whether Indians in iji will be allowed unrestricted use f liquor will be debated at the forthsming session of the Legislative ouncil when the Liquor Bill will be sintroduced. When it first came be>re the Legislative Council last year, ie bill was strongly opposed, and was 'ithdrawn to enable the Council of hiefs to discuss it. The measure was Iso opposed by the Indian represenitives. on religious grounds. Fijians complained that the bill gave le Indians equality with Europeans, .•aving the Fijians where they were, he position at present is that Euroeans have unrestricted use of liquor, 5 also have those who have enough uropean blood to qualify them to vote s Europeans. On a property or inme qualification, Indians are granted armits to drink in hotels; and bottle armits and hotel permits are granted * certain Fijians approved by the li•nsing committees of the various disicts. The proposal to remove all restricbns on Indians is strongly opposed > churches and missions, and by •any Europeans who are afraid that ’<e ability of Indians to purchase botte in unrestricted quantities will lead i a black market catering for Fijian •nsumption. Though it is generally •needed that the Indian can more tfely be entrusted with liquor than 1e Fijian, it is feared that the retoval of the restriction will make it Uch easier for liquor to find its way fto Fijian villages, where it would feate a great deal of harm. General objection is also raised on ground that the steady increase in te cost of living leaves little margin fr expenditure on liquor by the lower lid Indian workers, and that any >ch expenditure, however slight, will ract upon the living standards of the tmen and children. If the measure is freed through by the official majority Me in the Legislative Council, strong apeals to London by the missions can o expected, and these will have •hng public support.