COOLIES m FIJI.

Evening Star, Issue 15075, 6 January 1913, Page 7

COOLIES m FIJI.

[Special to the Star.] AUCKLAND, January 4. . r » t .<!T c ? t,n S reference to the coolie trouble in 1 iji is made by Captain Callaghan, -'o'M years officer in charge of the° Government steamers in the group. Captain Callaghan haw always taken a keen interest in tho politics of t Jig group, and in recent vc-ars ho served as a member of the council tor the municipality. He tabes a particularly serious view of the coolie menace, which he considers is such a grave ques tion that it should meet with the immediate attention of the Iwtish Parliament. “Coolies and Chinamen arc gradually ciowding the white man out of the islands.” caiil Captain G.dlaghap, "and I venture to predict that within 50 years the only Britishers remaining in the group will be the few men who have vested interests and lease their land to the natives.” The captain dates that the coolie? constitute a present danger on account- of the shocking immorality that exists .amongst their! Chinamen, he says, made their first appearance in the group as storekeepers on the ouicv island. Here ihev sot up depots in opposition to the British'traders! and being r v’ on very little they soon Harud tile white man out. Thev continue to conio In thirties and. forties, and such, an important unit have tlicv become in tlr popuiafkm Jni at tho last election mr (lie Suva ('.mini! Chinaman was at the head of too poll. In reference to the coolies. Captain Callaghan added that it fio.enis necessary at pre.-ent to employ these nieu in the sugar plantation.?. During the three years mi- which the coolie is indentured ho is an excellent, ’’ervant. and works well. Afterwards, however, ho drifts into tho town to take, up a position as house bar- These people fully appreciate the difficulties met with in securing household labor, and in consequence boy? who wore at one. time employed for JBo a year and their keep now get 12s to 15s a week and plenty of holidays ’flic coolie is fortunate in the possession of many relations who are on the point of death, and whenever ho feels that he is in need of a naintli (a walk) one dies conveniently in the part of the group that he desires to visit.