POSITION IN FIJI

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 35, 10 August 1921, Page 9

POSITION IN FIJI

SUGAR MILLS HAVE STARTED

CRUSHING

THOUSANDS OF INDIANS STILL IDLE,.

(II TSLEOItAPH. —IPECJAL TO THE POST.) ' AUCKLAND, This Day. Writing from Fiji, under date Ist August, a correspondent says: "While all the sugar mills in Fiji have started crushing, and many of the Indians in the disaffected districts have returned to work, there are thousands of Indians still idle. Some of tho leaders have been imprisoned, but others are fighting hard,' hitting back at the Government in an endeavour to embarrass tho industry in the country. The Indian Govornment has advised that a committee consisting of a European and two prominent Indians, one of whom is Sastri, • the Indian delegate to the Imperial Conference, will visit Fiji to inquire into conditions affecting the Indians here.< At the same time, thii embargo on Indians leaving India for Fiji was 'withdrawn so far as those who could pay their passage money were concerned. There are.hundreds clamouring to leave Calcutta for Fiji. Many are Indians who have gone to India from here during the past two years, and who find,life there very much more strenuous than in Fiji. Others wish to come because of the good reports they have heard of this colony. Some seven hundred were booked by the steamer Chenab to leave last month, but the strike leaders here cabled to India that such loads of Indians would help to end the strike,,and praying. the Gaudhists in Jfadia to protect them by blocking the emigration". In this wily move they have so far proved successful, and advices have reached here that the Chenab's sailing has been cancelled. The Government has cabled to India that'the strike has been broken and the men are daily returning to work. Active correspondence is now passing on the position, but so far no news oftha embargo having been lifted has arrived. Some extraordinary statements are being cabled from London to the press of Australia and New Zealand about conditions here, stating that it is demanded that indenturing in Fiji of Indians cease and that Indians be allowed to take up land earlier than after a five years' residence and indenture, and so on. This is all moonshine. All indenturing of Indians automatically ceased in Fiji in January, 1920. after the passing of legislation by the Government in 1919. . All Indians in Fiji are free agents, and can hire themselves to whom they will. Again, any Indian can take up land at any time if he has means to do so; in fact, it has been easier for Indians to take up land than Europeans. A great deal of misrepresentation of Fiji, has been purposely circulated during the past couple of years."