THE FIJI CRISIS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 46, 6 February 1920, Page 5

THE FIJI CRISIS.

TUTANEKAI DELAYED BY UNIONS’ ACTION. FORCE NOT FOR STRIKE BREAKING. Auckland, Feb. 5. Attempts were made in Auckland yesterday to prevent the Tutaneka., which arrived from Wellington this morning, sailing for Fiji with a military force. Trouble appeared early in the morning. The Tutanekai carries enough coal to make Fiji in fine weather, but it was desired to load another 70 tons as. a safeguard against hurricanes, which may be expected about this season. A hulk was therefore brought alongside at 10 o’clock, but no labour was forthcoming, the watersiders’ chief reason, apparently, being that the vessel was engaged on a strikebreaking expedition. It was also apparent from remarks on the wharf that some of the watersiders resented the proposal to take coal from Auckland. The authorities decided that the vessel should sail without the cpal, the Time being fixed at 5 p.m. Shortly before that hour a deputation of firemen waited on Captain Post and demanded their discharges The spokesman said that when they signed on at Wellington they had not been informed that the ship was to carry soldiers to Fiji. The firemen were informed that they would have to abide by the articles. Major Puttick explained that his orders were to see that the Hindoos did not destroy the life and property of Europeans. Asked whether they were prepared to hamper the sailing of the ship when Europeans in Fiji were endangered, the firemen retired, declaring they would not work. Volunteers were called for the soldiers to work in the stokehold, and there appeared to be no difficulty in getting a team. The steamer remained at the wharf, however, and it transpired that the seamen were faced with the difficulty of service with non-union firemen, and apparently "they had to receive permission from thte union. This permission was being obtained when the firemen 18ft the ship. All were arrested, and taken to the wharf police station, where, after receiving the assurance that . the force was proceeding to Fiji for the sole purpose of protecting Eiirbpeans, they agreed to return to lhe vessel. The Tutanekai ig expeeteA to sail at midnight. SAILS ATMtDNIGHT. Auckland, Feb. 6. The Tutanekai left for Fiji at 12.10 a.m. AN UN-BRITISH ACT. , TO IGNORE NEIGHBOUR’S APPEAL. MASSEY REPLIES TO HOLLAND Reference was made by the Prime Minister yesterday to the letter by Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., with regard to the present crisis in the Fiji Islands. Mr. Massey says:— “I received Mr. Holland’s letter today after I had read it in the morning paper. That, however, is oy the way. I do not know a great deal regarding the conditions under which indentured labour is employed in the Fijian Group, but I shall not be surprised to learn that the statements made by Mr. Holland have been. grossly exaggerated. It is my business, however, to deal with the position as it exists. There were according to official figures, in 1916, 4500 Europeans, 57,000 Indians and 20,000 Fijians . in the Group. The number of indentured Indians in 1913 was 10,060, and in 1916 7,232, and it has decreased since then, though I am not able to give the actual number at prM sent. A few days ago we were informed that a strike had taken place among the Indians, and that, a rising was feared. It is wortn remembering that there has been similar trouble in India itself just recently, only on a very much larger scale. It seems to me that there was only one thing to do under the circumstances, and that was to send the help asked for, and that has been done. I am only sorry that a more suitable ship was not available, but if they are called upon, the New Zealanders aboard can be .relied upon to do their duty. It is not the Briton’s way to turn his back when his neighbour requires assistance, and I don’t thins Mr. Holland will find many to agro, with him in the position he has taken up.